IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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^  A 


1.0 


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to  m 
t  m  12.0 


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1.25      1.4      1.6 

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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^ 


.% 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions 


Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The 
tot 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibiiographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagde 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul6e 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

m    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 


D 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


L'lnstitut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t4  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 

□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tacheties  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


r~T|    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
I      I    Pages  detached/ 


I      I    Showthrough/ 


Transparence 


□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  mateiial/ 


Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


0 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmies  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Thf 
pos 
of  1 
filn 


Orii 
be{ 
the 
sioi 
oth 
firs 
sioi 
or  i 


Th« 
sha 

jm 

wh 

Ma 
difl 
ent 
be£ 
rigl 
req 
me 


0 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


10X 


14X 


18X 


22X 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


y 


20X 


24X 


28X 


1 


2X 


ails 

du 

tdifier 

une 

nage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reintroduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6X6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmis  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  en-preinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  —^-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates.  ;;har'     etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reductio        tios,  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  plan^nes,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuv'  nt  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  niicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


trrata 
to 


pelure, 
nd 


ri 


2X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

8 

6 

"▼T 


V 


"▼Tv 


innraMPiP 


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m 


ORNITHOLOGY 


;    \ 


OK    THE 


UNITED  STATES  AND  CANADA. 


IN   TWO  VOLUMES. 
Vol.  II. 


u 


'I 

i 


»'" 


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t^"^ 


t  I 


*  J 


:! 


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T 


I'/'iX    c 


t)R\  r:  i  N  ij  jGv 


; 


'•J 


'   >1  Alls   AX!)   CAXAOA. 


Hv    ^^■)\^Al.(;K    Cn.>  MiM;<LAI\. 


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<-\ci 


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wi^wwr.- 


POPULAR    HANDBOOK 


OF    IIIK 


ORNITHOLOGY 


OF   THli 


UNITED   STATES  AND   CANADA. 
Bascn  on  Nuttairs  fHauual. 


By  MONTAGUE   CHAMBERLAIN. 


Vol..   II. 
GAME    AND   WATER    BIRDS. 

BOSTON: 

LITTLE,  BROWN,  AND   COMPANY. 

1891. 


J 


Copyrii^fit,  J 8!)!, 

By    LiTTLli,    LiKUWN,  ANIJ   CoMI'ANV. 


John  Wilson  anij  So.\,  Camrridgb. 


i 


» 


f 


1 


C  O  N  T  E  N  TS. 


Al.HATROfs,  Yellow-nosed 


VVantlcr 
Auk,  (Jrcat    .     .     . 
Kazor-liillccI  . 
Avoctt 


"g 


Hai.opatk    .    .    . 

liiitci  II 

Cory's  Least 
Least      ,     . 

l!oI)-\Vliitc     .     .     . 

IJoiihy 

lirant 

lUiftle-hcad    .     .     . 


Coot 

Cormorant     .     .     . 

Donbic-crcstcd 
Crane,  Little  ISrown 
Sandhill      . 
Whooping  . 
Curlew,  K>kimo 

Iludsonian 
Loitg-l)illed 

DoVK,  CIround    .     . 

Mourning    . 

Zenaida  .     . 
Dovckic    .... 
Dowitchcr      .     . 
Duck,  ISlack  .     .     . 

Canvas-I)ack 

Harlequin    . 

Labrador 

Lesser  Scaup 

King-necked 


278 

414 
410 

106 

.3" 

'J9 
102 
101 

23 

379 
293 
347 

197 
3' '9 

3-'  ') 
/- 

76 

77 

73 
122 

120 

118 

'3 
1 1 

10 

403 
169 

3' 5 

35- 
302 

345 
346 


Duck.  Ruddy     . 
Scaup 
Wood 

I'll : KIT  .... 
Reddish  . 

I'iider  .... 
(Ireeiiiand 
King     .     . 

Fl.AMINC.O      .      . 

I'uhnar      .     .     . 

Lesser    . 

(Jadwai.i,     .    . 
(jallinule,  Florida 
l'ur|)le 
Gainiet       .     .     . 
Ciodwit,  Iludsonian 

Marl)led 
Ciolden-cye    .     .     . 

Harrow's 
Goose,  IMue  ... 
Canada .     . 
Clreater  Snow 
Iluti'hins's 
W  hile-frontcd 
Grebe,  Ilolbceirs    . 
I lorned  .     . 
riedhilled  . 
Grouse,  Canada 

RutTed  .     . 

Sharp-tailed 

Gnillcmot,  Hlack    . 

Gull,  IJonapartc's  . 

Franklin's .     . 


334 
343 
3'7 

84 
88 

324 
329 
329 

104 
2()y 
271 

307 
203 

201 

375 
168 

166 

349 

35' 

283 

2'^5 

281 
290 

284 

3'^4 

386 

41 

30 

39 
.395 
238 
238 


VI 


CONTKNTS. 


Pa(.k 

Gull,  Glaucous ^aH 

(jif.it  iJlack  iKickcd    .     .  252 

"eninj^ 246 

Iceland 250 

Ivory 244 

Kumlicii's 2;i 

''■•'•Kliin;^ 236 

.Uiii};-i)illctl 245 

Koss'.s 23(1 

isabiiic's 254 


IIkn,  Heath ^y, 

I'laiiie -^c 

Ilcroii;  l.lackcrowiicd  Night  .  (ji 

(ireut  I  Hue      .     .     .     .  7S 

Gnat  White  .     .     .     .  S2 

(jiteii o-> 

Little  lilue      ....  94 

l.niiisiana ()(y 

•"^iiowy Sf) 

Ward's 82 

Yellow -Lrowiied  Night  90 

Ims,  (Ildssy 1,4 

Scarlet 112 

While 112 

Wood 110 

jAt'X'.r  K,  I.nng-failcd    ....  2^9 

I'.ira.sitic 2i;S 

I'oniariiie 257 


Kii.i.nivKu 
K  It  I  i  wake. 
Knot     .     . 


62 
241 
140 


LiMI'KI.N 102 

liOor. -.f^S 

JUack-throatcd    .     .     .     .391 
Ked-throated 391 

M.At.I.AKI) ■503 

M.in-ot'war  Ih'rd 375 

Mcrgaii.ser t-^; 


I f ooded 
Red-breasted 


M 


u  rrc 


liriimiicl 


1  s 


3C\] 
360 

401 


Noddy 


Ol.D-Si.HJAW 


J'uffiii 


Willow 


QuAii.-iiovK.  l!l,ie-hca;icd  . 
Kev  W  est      . 


Pack 


355 


Oyster-catcher c. 


I'K'.ICAN,  lirowii     .     .     . 
White     .     .     . 
i'etrel,  I.each's  .... 
Slorinv  ... 
Wil^tin's     .     . 
I'iialarope,  Ncithern  .     .     .     .  21 
Red  .... 
Wilson's    . 
Pheasant,  I'^nglish  ... 
I'igeon,  Passenger.     .     .     . 

Winte-crowned  .     . 

I'intail 

Plover,  I  Hack-bellied  .     .     . 

Golden 

I'iping 

J<iiigcd 66 

Semi  palniated    ...     64 
Wilson's 61 

Prairie  Hen ->r 

i'larniigan,  Roek ,^- 

Welch's     ..."     4S 


3f^S 
3''4 

2^-3 
267 
264 

07 
205 
21 1 


I 

7 

309 

6S 

57 
59 


43 
40(') 

'4 
9 


I\Air,,  I'lack i(.f, 

Glappcr is- 

King iSS 

Virginia iSo 

^'ellow 191 

Redhead    

Knff 


340 
'50 


Sandi'.ri.ixc,      .    .     .  . 

Sandpiijcr,  liaird's      .  . 

I'artraniian  . 

litiff-hreasted 

Curlew      .  . 

Least    .     .  . 

Pectoral    .  . 

Purple      .  . 


49 
142 
164 
'.V 
'-5 
'3f' 

'34 


CONTENTS. 


VII 


i 


Sandpiper,  Rcd-ljacked  . 
Scnii-palmatcd 
S(jlitaiy  . 
Spotted  .     . 
Still     .     .     . 
\Vliite-runiped 
Scoter,  American  .     .     . 

Surf 

White-winged 
Slicarwa'icr,  Audubon's  , 
Cory's     . 
Greater  . 
S(joty 

Slioveiler 

Skiniiner,  lilack     .     .     . 

Skua 

Snipe,  \Vils(jn'.s      .     .     . 

Sola 

Spnonliill,  Roseate      .     . 

Still,  illack-necked      .     , 

Swan,  'I'runiDetir  .     .     . 

Whistling     .     .     , 


J'A(;i. 
126 

'4.3 

'57 
160 

'45 

333 
33' 
334 
-75 
V4 
272 

^75 
300 
260 

-55 
172 
I  S.J 
loS 
52 
-W 

2(j6 


TiAi.,  Hlue-winged 

(neen-wmged 
Tern,  Arctic  . 

lilack  . 

Cabot's 

C'aspian 

Conunon 

I''<jrster'.s 

Ciull-bilic 

Ixast   . 

Roseate 

Royal  . 

Sooty  . 
'I'r<ipic  Rird,  Red-billed 
'J'urkcy,  Wild 
'I'urnstone 

NVi;)(;i;(jN 
Willet  .     .     . 
Wcjodcock     . 


V'i£Li.o\v-ij;(;s 


Greater 


Pack 

•  3«9 

3-'' 

.  220 

=30 
2.7 
216 

2US 

223 

217 
228 

3«' 
'5 
7> 

3^3 

i4f> 
176 

'54 
'52 


passex(;er  pic;eon. 

WII.I)    IMGKON. 

EcToi'is'i i:s  MicR.AroRius. 

Cmau.       Above,  .^ravish   Muc,  deeper  .-„  hencl  and  ,„mp,  hack  tinned 
V,.     brown;  prm.anes  l,lackish  wi.h  border  nf  pale  bine;  n.id.lle  ,a 

a  hers  dusky,  the  remainder  shading  ,I,ro„oh  bb'e  to  wime  ;  neek  w   h 
n  etallu:  refleet.ons  nt  .golden  purple  and  wine  enlnr;  under  part,  brown 
■  sii  red  with  a  purple  tint  shading  thrnn.Lrh  purpb.h  pink  to  while 

A<'.rA     In  tree.  —  a  frail  platf.irni  ,.f  twigs. 

^tt'-J.     I  or  -;  dull  white;   1.45  y   ,.05/ 

The  Wild  Pigeon  of  America,  so  wonderful  for  its  greparioiis 
habits,  is  met  with  more  or  less  according  to  circumstances 

vol..  II,  —   , 


i 


T 


2  riGEON  TKI15E. 

from  Mexico  to  Hudson  Day,  in  which  iiih(;spitable  region 
it  is  seen  even  in  December,  weatlieriiig  the  severity  of  the 
climate  with  indil'ference,  and  sui)[)orting  itself  upon  the 
meagre  buds  of  the  juniper  when  the  ground  is  hidden  by 
mundating  snows.  I'o  the  west  it  is  found  to  the  base  of  liie 
Northern  Andes,  or  K(K;ky  Mountains,  but  does  not  api)ear 
to  be  known  beyond  this  natural  barrier  to  its  devious 
wanderings.  .\s  might  be  supposed  from  its  extraortlinary 
history,  it  is  formed  with  peculiar  strength  of  wing,  moving 
through  the  air  with  extreme  rapidity,  urging  its  tlight  also  by 
(juick  and  very  muscular  strt)kes.  During  the  season  of 
amorous  address  it  often  tlies  out  in  numerous  hovering  cir- 
cles ;  and  while  thus  engageil,  the  tips  of  the  great  wing- 
feathers  are  heard  to  strike  against  each  other  so  as  to  proilu(  e 
a  very  audible  sound. 

The  almost  incredible  and  unparalleled  associations  which 
the  species  form  with  each  (jther  appear  to  have  no  relation 
with  the  usual  motives  to  migration  among  other  birds.  A 
general  and  mutual  attachment  seems  to  occasion  this  congre- 
giiting  ])ropensity.  Nearly  the  whole  si)ecies,  which  at  any  one 
time  inhabit  the  continent,  are  found  together  in  the  same 
l)lace  ;  they  do  not  tly  from  climate,  as  they  pre  cajjable  of 
enduring  its  severity  and  extremes.  They  are  even  found  to 
breed  in  the  latitude  of  51  degrees,  round  Hudson  Bay  and 
the  interior  of  New  Hami)shire,  as  well  as  in  the  33d  degree  in 
the  dense  forests  of  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  'I'he 
accidental  situation  of  their  food  alone  directs  all  their  move- 
ments;  while  this  continues  to  be  supplied  they  sometimes 
remain  sedentary  in  a  i)articular  district,  as  in  the  dense  forests 
of  Kentucky,  where  the  great  body  remained  for  years  in  suc- 
cession, and  were  scarcely  elsewhere  to  be  found  ;  and  here, 
at  length,  when  the  mast  ha]ipened  to  fail,  they  disappeared 
for  several  years. 

The  rapidity  of  flight,  so  necessary  in  their  vast  domestic 
movements,  is  sufficiently  remarkable.  The  Pigeons  killed 
near  the  city  of  New  York  have  been  found  with  their  crops 
full  of  rice  collected  in  the  plantations  of  (leorgia  or  Carolina ; 


I  f 


I'ASSKNCJEU    IMGEON. 


Icstic 

tilled 

rops 

lina  ; 


and  a<  t'Ms  kind  of  fooil  is  diijcj^tcil  by  tht-ni  entirely  in  twelve 
lioir.s,  tliev  inii>.t  have  travelled  probably  three  or  lour  huiulreil 
miles  in  about  the  half  of  that  lime,  i.-r  have  sped  .it  the  rate  of 
a  mile  in  a  minute.  \\  ith  a  velocity  like  this,  our  I'i^'eon  might 
visit  the  shores  of  Europe  in  less  than  three  day>  ;  aiul,  in  fact, 
acconling  to  I'lenuning.  a  straj,'L;ler  was  actually  shot  in  Scot- 
land in  the  wmter  of  1S25.  A^^ocialed  with  this  rapidity  of 
llight  mu>t  also  be  the  extent  and  acuteness  of  its  vision,  or 
otherwise  the  object  of  its  motions  would  be  nugatory  ;  so 
th;it  while  thus  darting  over  the  country  almost  with  the 
\el(j(it\'  of  thought,  it  still  keei)s  up  a  strict  survey  for  its 
fare,  and  in  passing  over  a  sterile  region  sails  high  in  the  air 
with  a  widely  extended  front,  but  instantly  drops  its  llight  at 
the  i)rospect  of  footl,  llying  low  till  it  alights  near  an  ample 
supply. 

I'he  associated  numbers  of  Wild  Pigeons,  the  numerous 
tlocks  which  compose  the  general  swarm,  are  without  any 
other  parallel  in  the  history  of  the  feathered  race  ;  they  can 
indeed  alone  be  compared  to  the  finny  shoals  of  herrings, 
which,  descending  from  the  Arctic  regions,  discolor  and  fill 
the  ocean  to  the  extent  of  mighty  kingdoms.  Of  their  amaz- 
ing ntmibers  and  the  circumstances  attendant  on  this  fact,  the 
reader  will  do  well  to  consult  the  indefatigable  Wilson  and  the 
celebrated  Audubon.  Our  limits  and  more  bounded  personal 
information  will  not  allow  us  to  enlarge  on  this  curious  and 
extraordinary  subject.  To  talk  of  hundreds  of  millions  of 
individuals  of  the  same  s])ecies  habitually  associated  in  feed- 
ing, roosting,  and  breeding,  without  any  regard  to  climate  or 
season  as  an  operating  cause  in  these  gregarious  movements, 
would  at  first  ajjpear  to  be  wholly  uicredible  if  not  borne  out 
by  the  numerous  testimony  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  neigh- 
boring districts.  The  a])pr();ich  of  tlu'  mighty  feathered  army 
with  a  loud  rushing  roar  and  a  stirring  biee/e,  attended  by  a 
sudden  darkness,  might  be  mistaken  for  a  fearfiil  tornado  about 
to  overwhelm  tlu-  !";;<  e  of  Nature.  l'"or  several  hours  together 
the  vast  host,  exteniling  some  miles  in  breadth,  still  continues 
to  pass  in  flocks  without  tliminution.     'I'he  whole  air  is  filled 


I'IGKON   TRIHK. 


with  birds  ;  their  muting  resembles  a  shower  of  sleet,  and  they 
shut  out  the  light  as  if  it  were  an  eclipse.  At  the  apjjroach  of 
the  Hawk  their  sul)linie  and  beautiful  aerial  evolutions  are 
disturl)ed  like  the  niflling  scpiall  extending  over  the  placid 
ocean  ;  as  a  thundering  torrent  they  nish  together  in  a  concen- 
trating mass,  and  heaving  in  undulating  and  glittering  sweeps 
towards  the  earth,  at  length  again  ])roceed  in  lofty  meandiTS 
like  the  rushing  of  a  mighty  aniniMted  river. 

IJut  the  Hawk  is  not  their  only  enemy  :  tens  of  thousands 
are  killed  in  various  ways  by  all  the  inhabitants  far  and  near. 
The  evolutions  of  the  feeding  Pigeons  as  they  circle  round  are 
both  beautiful  and  amusing.  Alighting,  they  industriously 
search  through  the  withered  leaves  for  their  favorite  mast; 
those  behind  are  continually  rising  and  passing  forward  in 
front,  in  such  rapid  succession  that  the  whole  llock,  still  cir- 
cling over  the  ground,  seem  yet  on  the  wing. 

As  the  sun  begins  to  decline,  they  ilepart  in  a  body  for  the 
i^cneral  roost,  which  is  often  himdreds  of  miles  distant,  and  is 
generally  chosen  in  the  tallt.-.t  and  thickest  forests,  almost 
divested  of  underwood.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  waste  and 
desolation  of  these  nocturnal  resorts  ;  the  vegetation  becomes 
buried  by  their  excrements  to  the  dejith  of  several  inches. 
The  tall  trees  {ox  thousands  of  acres  are  c()mi)letcly  killed,  and 
the  ground  strewed  with  massy  branches  torn  down  by  the 
clustering  weight  of  the  birds  which  have  rested  ujion  them. 
The  whole  region  for  several  years  jiresents  a  continued  scene 
of  devastati(^n,  as  if  swept  by  the  resistless  blast  of  a  whirlwind. 
The  Honorable  T.  H.  IVrkins  informs  me  that  he  has  seen  one 
of  these  desolated  roosting-grounds  on  the  borders  of  Lake 
C'ham])lain  in  New  York,  an<l  that  the  forest  to  a  great  extent 
presented  a  scene  of  total  ruin. 

The  l>n'cdini:;-placcs,  as  might  naturally  be  expected,  differ 
from  the  roosts  in  their  greater  extent.  In  iSoy,  according  to 
Wilson,  one  of  these  immense  nurseries,  near  Shelbyville  in 
Kentucky,  was  several  miles  in  breadth  and  extended  through 
the  woods  for  upwards  of  forty  miles.  After  occupving  this 
situation  for  a  succession  of  seasons  they  at  length  abandoned 


I 


\.\ 


I'ASSKNGKR   I'KJKON. 


5 


X 


X 


\ 


liffer 

lig  to 

le   in 

nigh 

this 

)ned 


it,  and  removed  sixty  or  eighty  miles  off  to  the  hanl<s  of  (ireeti 
River  in  the  same  State,  where  they  ctmgregated  in  eciual 
ninnbers.  'I'hese  situations  seem  regulated  by  the  prospect  of 
a  supply  of  food,  suih  as  beech  and  oak  mast.  They  also 
feed  on  most  kinds  of  pulse  and  grain,  as  well  as  whortle- 
berries, with  those  of  the  holly  and  nettle  tree.  A\ilson  often 
counted  upwanls  of  ninety  nests  in  a  single  tree,  and  the  whole 
forest  was  filled  with  them.  'Ihese  frail  cradles  for  the  young 
are  merely  formecl  of  a  few  slender  dead  twigs  negligently  put 
together,  antl  with  so  little  art  that  the  concavity  appears 
scarcely  sufficient  for  the  transient  recejjticjn  of  the  young,  who 
are  reailily  seen  through  this  thin  tlooring  from  below.  'I'he 
eggs  are  white,  as  usual,  and  only  two  in  number,  one  of  them 
abortive,  according  to  Wilson,  and  i)roducing  usually  but  a 
single  biril.  Audubon,  ho\ve\er,  asserts  that  there  are  two,  as 
in  the  tame  Pigeons,  where  the  number  of  the  sexes  in  this 
faithful  tribe  are  almost  uniformly  e([ual.  'I'heir  (Vc/V/i,--  call, 
billing,  and  general  demeanor  are  apparently  cpiite  similar  to 
the  behavior  of  the  domestic  species  in  the  breeding-season. 
Ihrds  of  prey,  and  rapacious  animals  generally,  are  pretty 
regular  attendants  upon  these  assailable  commimities.  Hut 
their  most  destructive  enemy  is  man  ;  and  as  soon  as  the 
young  are  fully  grown,  the  neighboring  inhabitants  assemble 
and  encamp  for  several  days  around  the  devoted  Pigeons  with 
wagons,  axes,  and  cooking  utensils,  like  the  outskirts  of  a 
destructive  army.  The  perpetual  tumult  of  the  birds,  the 
crowding  and  Huttering  multitudes,  the  thundering  roar  of 
their  wings,  and  the  iVAsh  of  falling  trees,  from  which  the 
young  are  thus  |)recipitali-d  to  the  ground  by  the  axe,  pro- 
duces altogether  a  scene  of  indescribable  and  almost  terrific 
confusion.  It  is  dangerous  to  walk  beneath  these  ilustering 
crowds  of  birds,  from  the  frequent  descent  of  large  branches 
broken  down  by  the  congregating  millions  :  the  horses  start  at 
the  noisi'.  and  conversation  can  only  be  heard  in  a  shout. 
These  S(///if/>s,  or  young  Pigeons,  of  which  three  or  iowx  broods 
are  jiroduced  in  the  season,  are  cxtrenKly  fit  and  palatable, 
and  as  well  as  the  old  birds  killetl  at  the  roosts  are  often,  with 


tl! 


6  I'KiKOX   TKIiiE. 

a  wanton  prodigality  and  i)rodij;i()ns  slaughter,  strewed  on  the 
ground  as  raltiiiiiig  J'ooit  for  the  Ii0i:,s.  At  the  roosts  the 
destruction  is  no  less  extensive  ;  gtnis,  clubs,  long  poles,  puts 
of  burning  sulphur,  and  every  other  (.-ngine  of  destruction 
which  wantt)n  avarice  can  bring  forward,  are  all  eni])loved 
against  the  swarming  host.  Indeed  for  a  time,  in  many 
l)laces,  nothing  scarcely  is  seen,  talked  of.  or  eaten,  but 
I'igeons. 

in  the  Atlantic  States,  where  the  llocks  are  less  abundant, 
the  gun,  decoy,  and  net  are  put  in  operation  against  the 
devoted  throng.  Twenty  or  even  thirty  dozen  have  been 
caught  at  a  single  swei'p  of  the  net.  Wagon-loads  of  them 
are  poured  into  market,  where  they  are  sometimes  sold  for  no 
more  than  a  c  ent  apiece.  Their  combined  niovemeiUs  are 
also  sometimes  sufficiently  extensive.  The  Honorable  '1'.  II. 
IVrkins  remarks  that  about  the  year  i  79S,  while  he  was  ])ass- 
ing  through  N\w  Jersey,  near  Newark,  the  llocks  continued  to 
pass  for  at  least  two  hours  without  cessation;  ancl  he  learnt 
from  the  neighboring  inhabitants  that  in  descending  upon  a 
large  ])ond  tcj  drink,  those  in  the  rear,  alighting  on  the  backs  of 
the  first  that  arrived  (in  the  usual  order  of  their  movements  on 
land  to  feecl).  pressed  them  beneath  the  surface,  so  that  tens  of 
thousands  were  thus  drowned.  They  were  likewise  killed  in 
great  munbers  at  the  roosts  with  clubs. 

I  )owu  to  twcntv  vears  a^o  iiiinu'iiso  Hocks  of  i'igeons  were 
si'c'ii  yearly  in  every  State  of  Ni  \v  IJigiand,  and  tliey  nested  ui 
coniiiuinitics  that  were  reckoned  by  thousands.  Now,  in  i)laee  of 
tlie  nivriads  that  gathered  lierc,  only  a  few  can  be  found,  and  these 
arc  scattered  (hiring  tlie  breeding-season,  -  each  pair  selecting  an 
isolated  site  lor  tlie  nest. 

Tweiitv  vears  ago  tlie  Wild  I'igeon  was  exceedingly  abundant  in 
the  M.uitinie  I'roviines  of  Canada;  now  it  is  rare.  Mellwraitli 
sends  a  similar  report  from  Ontario.  Wheaton,  in  Ohio,  finds  it 
''irregular  and  iincomnion."  and  writes  of  the  "  tiu-ongs  "'  tliat 
formerlv  nested  there.  Ridgeway  savs  notiung  of  its  occurrence 
in  Illinois  to-dav,  luit  rei)eats  tlie  story  of  the  older  observers, 
to  whom  it  was  familiar.  Warren  says  it  apjjcars  in  I'ennsylvania 
in  the  fall,  but  no  longer  in  tiie  abundance  of  former  years.  To- 
day we  nuist  go  to  the  upper  regions  of  the  Mississippi  valley  and 


I 


% 


\vihte-ck()\vm:i>  i'K'.kon. 


I 


to  the  iR.ivily  tiinhi'ivcl  ilistiicts  ol"  Michinan  to  liiul  l.irm'  tlock.s  of 
rigcoiis,  and  rvcii  tlicrc  wc  can  tinil  hut  a  ifmiianl  ol  tiic  liosts 
tliat  assL'ml)lecl  in  tlioso  regions  a  few  years  ago. 

Tlu'  most  important  of  recent  contril)nlion.s  to  tlie  biograjjliy  of 
tiii.s  species  is  Mr.  William  Hrewster's  aitiile  in  "The  Auk" 
for  October,  18.S9.  lie  tells  there  ol  a  "nesting"  in  .Michigan  in 
I.S77  that  covered  .m  area  twenty-eight  miles  long  and  three  to  four 
miles  wide,  and  says  :  "  For  the  entire  dislam  e  of  twenty-ei.^ht 
miles  every  free  of  any  size  had  more  or  less  nests,  and  many  trees 
were  filled  with  them." 

iJrewster  visited  .Michigan  in  icSSS,  and  heard  that  a  larj^e  flock 
had  passed  over  the  northern  section  of  the  .southern  i)enninsula, 
but  it  had  gone  farther  north  before  westing.  —  he  could  not  find  it. 
lie  thinks  the  flock  was  sufficiently  large  fo  stock  the  Western 
States  again,  were  tiiese  birds  protected  for  a  few  years  from  the 
terrific  slaughter  that  riow  imju'riis  their  existence:  for  it  is  simply 
this  slaughter  that  has  diminished  tiie  numbers  of  the  birds,  'i'lu're 
is  no  mystery  about  tlieir  disappearance,  as  many  writers  liave  tried 
to  represent.  Doubtless  this  s])ecies  has  been  irregular  in  appear- 
ing in  any  given  localitv  at  all  times,  the  movements  of  the  flocks 
being  intUienced  by  the  food  supply.  Hut  the  Pigeons  have  been 
exterminated  in  the  Mast  just  as  they  are  being  exterminated  in  tlie 
West, —  by  •■netting."  One  old  nctter  told  Mr.  Urewster  that 
during  18S1  as  many  as  five  hundred  men  \vere  engaged  in  nettuig 
I'igeons  in  .Michigan,  and,  said  he,  "They  ca])tured  on  the  average 
twenty  thousand  apiece  during  the  season.''  At  this  rate  the  I'igeon 
will  soon  join  the  buffalo  on  that  list  so  disgraceful  to  humanitv. 
"the  extinct  species,"  a  list  that  will  be  filled  rajjidlv  if  a  check 
is  not  put  on  nien"s  avarice  and  the  law's  shameful  negligence. 


of 


WHjri:-(T<()w\i:i)  imc.i'.on. 

Coi.UMf.A    I.I.HOCI.IMIAI.A. 

CllAK.  Cicncral  cohiv  dark  slate  blue,  darker  (ni  winqs  and  fail,  paler 
bi'low  ;  upper  part  of  head  whili.'  :  cape  on  hind  neck  of  1  i.  Ii  iiianioii,  and 
liclow  it  a  band  of  metallic  preen,  cicii  ieatlier  l)or(lere(!  with  scale-like 
p.uciics  of  black.     Length  ahont  1  v'.;  incites. 

Xis/.     In  low  tree  or  bush,  made  of  twigs  and  roots,  lined  with  j;rass 

£xxs.     2;  white;    i..|0  X   1.05. 

This  species,  well  known   as  an   inhabitint  of  Mexico  and 
the  West  Indies,  is  also  gregarious,  an<l  fomvi  in  great  numbers 


I 


8 


ricJEoN  Tkini:. 


.)ii  the  rocks  of  the  Morula  Keys,  where  it  l)rcc(ls  in  society 
and  when  first  seen  in  the  spring;  feeds  ])rinci|)ally  upon  the 
bee(  h-pUnn  and  the  berries  of  a  kind  of  pihn.  From  the 
pecuhar  selection  of  its  breeding-jjlaces  it  is  known  in  some  of 
the  West  Indies,  jjarticularly  Jamaica,  St.  Domingo,  and  i'orto 
Rico,  by  the  name  of  Rock  I'igeon.  It  likewise  abounds  in 
the  llahama  islands,  and  fijrms  an  important  article  of  food  to 
the  inhabitants,  —  particularly  the  young  birds  as  they  become 
fully  grown. 

According  to  Audubon,  these  birds  arrive  on  the  southern 


tht 


th 


keys  of  the  Kloridas,  from  the  island  of  Cuba,  from 
of  April  to  the  isl  of  May,  remaining  to  breed  during  the  sum- 
mer season.  They  are  at  all  times  extremely  shy  and  wary, 
remaining  so  indeed  even  while  incubating,  skipi)ing  from  the 
nests  and  taking  to  wing  without  noise,  and  remaining  off 
sometimes  as  much  as  half  an  hour  at  a  lime.  In  the  month 
of  May  th.e  young  scpiabs  are  nearly  able  lo  ll},  and  are  killetl 
in  great  numbers  by  the  wreckers  who  visit  the  keys.  Ihe 
nest  is  i)laced  on  the  summit  of  a  cactus  shoot  a  few  feet  from 
ihe  ground  or  on  the  upper  branches  of  a  mangrove,  or  quite 
l>)\v  imiJcnding  over  the  water;  externally  it  is  comjiosed  of 
small  twigs,  and  lined  with  grass  and  fibrous  roots.  The  eggs 
are  two,  white,  rather  roundish,  and  as  large  as  those  of  the 
domestic  Pigeon.  This  bird  has  apparently  several  broods  in 
the  season.  His  cooing  mav  be  heard  to  a  considerable  dis- 
lance  ;  after  a  kind  of  crowing  ]irelude  he  re])eats  his  k<>(>  koo 
koo.  When  suddenly  a])])roache(l,  he  utters  a  hollow  guttural 
si)und,  like  the  Common  I'igeon.  White-crowned  Pigeons  are 
easily  domesticaled,  and  breed  in  that  state  freely.  About  the 
beginning  of  ()ctol)er  tliey  are  very  nimierous,  and  then  return 
to  pass  the  winter  in  the  West  India  islands. 


n 


(1  of 


s  m 
(lis- 
koo 
ttural 
are 
the 
.'turn 


I 

"3 


I*, 
''ft 


4 


KKV    \Vi:sr   QUAII,    DOVK. 

I'AKTKIIXiK    FKilloN. 
(iKOlkVlioN    MAkriNU  A. 

Chau.  Above,  reddish  purijlo,  tlic  iil'(  k  and  licad  with  metallic  letlic- 
tions  c)|  green;  lielow,  pale  viiiaceous,  fading  to  wliite  on  ciiin,  and  to 
buff  on  under  tail-eoverts;  while  of  cliin  extends  l)elow  the  eyes.  Length 
about  1 1  inches. 

iWst.  In  low  branches,  sometimes  on  the  ground;  made  of  li;.;lit 
twigs. 

Egi::s.    2;  white;  1.40  X  i.oo. 

This  beautiftil  species,  originally  discovered  in  Jamaica,  was 
found  by  Audubon  to  be  a  stuiinier  resident  on  the  island  of 
Key  West,  near  the  extremity  of  Mast  I'lorida  ;  it  retires  in 
winter  to  the  island  of  Cuba.  Its  flight  is  low,  swift,  and 
protracted,  keeping  in  loose  flocks  or  fimilies  of  from  five  or 
six  to  a  dozen.  'I'hese  dwell  chiefiy  in  the  tangled  thickets, 
but  go  out  at  times  to  the  shore  to  feed  and  dust  themselves. 
This  bird  contracts  and  sjireads  out  its  neck  in  the  usual 
manner  of  Pigeons.  Its  cooing  is  not  so  soft  or  prolonged  as 
that  of  the  Common  Dove;  the  sound  resembles  uiJioc  lohoe- 
oh-oh-oh-oh.  When  surpriseil,  it  gives  a  guttural,  gasping 
sound,  somewhat  like  that  of  the  Common  Pigeon  in  the  same 
circumstances.  Quail  Doves  keep  usually  near  shady  secluded 
ponds  in  the  thickest  places,  and  perch  on  the  low  branches 
of  the  trees.     The  nest  is  formed  of  light  dry  twigs,  sometimes 


mmmm 


wm 


10 


ridicox  ruiiu:. 


on  ilu'  ^Toiind.  t)n  tlu'  hirj^i'  hnm*  lies  of  tri-cs,  or  i-vi'ii  on 
slcndrr  t\vi},'s.  On  the  jotli  of  .M;iy  it  will  contiiiii  two  whiti- 
I'g^'s.  almost  traiisliicfiu.  In  July  thcsf  pi^'cons  (  omk-  out  of 
tlu'  thicki'ts  in  llo(  k^  of  all  aj^M-s,  and  frniucnting  tlu'  roMd^  to 
dust  thcmst'lvi's,  arc  then  easily  procured  and  considered  good 
food.  'I'hey  (ccA  chielly  on  berries  and  si'eds,  and  ])irti(  ularly 
tlu-  sea-gra])e.  Tlu-y  depart  for  Cuba  or  the  other  West  India 
islands  about  the  middle  of  October. 

This  specie.s  is  now  rarely  seen  on  Key  West;  an  adult  male, 
shot  in  i<S,S(;  by  Mr.  J.  W.  .Atkins,  was  the  only  exaniplr  encoun- 
tered by  that  keen  observer  in  three  years  of  careful  tield-work. 

NoTi:.  —  A  specimen  of  the  KiDDV  OfAii-DoNK  ((,'<-o/>yt^<>fi 
vioiitaiiii)  was  captiu'i'd  on  Key  West  in  Dk  ember,  iSSS,  the 
tir^t  lakt'u  within  thi'  Ixmlers  of  North  America. 


ZK.NAIDA    DOV'I:. 
/r:\.\iii.\  /i.wiii.A. 

C'UAK.  Above,  (ilivc  ^ray  with  a  red  tinge;  top  of  Iicad  and  under 
parts  puri)lish  red;  ncik  witli  nietallie  nlkctions ;  a  lilack  patili  on 
wing-covcits  ;  t.iil  witli  luminal  l)an(l  of  black  tipped  witli  wliitc.  I,cn,i;tli 
about  10  inclas. 

.Wst.  In  low  l)u>li ;  a  sliglit  atfair  of  fine  twigs.  The  nests  aii'  some- 
times plaicd  on  the  sand  and  concealed  by  tufts  of  grass,  and  these 
giound-ncsts  are  compactly  built  of  leaves  and  grass. 

Ei::^s.     i\  white;    i.:o  X  0.95. 

This  beautiful  little  specii-s  itihabits  the  Keys  of  Tlorid;!.  but 
is  rart'.  Itidividuals  have  been  found  in  the  tieighboritig  island 
of  Cuba.  'I'hey  ki'i'j)  much  on  the  ground,  where  thev  dust 
themselves  and  swallow  gravel  to  assist  digestion,  ^^'hen  rising 
on  the  wing,  the  same  whistling  noise  is  hi'ard  from  the  motion 
of  their  wings,  as  is  the  case  of  thi'  common  Carolina  Turtle 
Dove. 


smiie- 
tlicsc 


n.  hut 
island 
V  (lust 
rising 
lotion 
tirtle 


iMolKMNt;    DOVK. 

CAKDi.iNA  i)(>\i:.     irKii.!'.  i)(>\i:. 

/l.N.\n)l  k.\    MAtRol  |<\. 

('llAlv.  AliDvc,  ^lavisli  l)lii(.',  iliipiT  (111  till'  1r;i(1,  llif  li.uU  \v,i>1k(1  with 
lir()\viii>li  iilivr  ;  >i(lts  nt'  licail  and  luck  and  uiidi  i  11,111-.  iiiiii'li>li  red, 
fiuliiii;  lo  ImiIV  nil  anal  iti;ii)ii  ;  .sides  of  iri  k  wilii  nuiallii  lelkctinns  ; 
wing-c'ivtiis  spiitlid  willi  l)la('k  ;  tail  witii  bar  nf  black,  outer  tVatliers 
broadlv  tipi)C(l  with  wliile.      l.eiiglli  about  u -4  iiielies. 

A',s/.  In  a  tiee  or  l)u>li  01  on  t'eme  lail  or  loik,  —  a  mere  jilatloriu 
rudely  made  ol  twins. 

^X''.i,''-'-     -~\  (usuallv   J)  ;  white;    1.15   K  0S5. 

This  al.iiost  familiar  PiLjcon  in  tlir  conrse  of  the'  spring 
Icisiin-ly  migrates  through  the  interior  as  far  ns  to  Canada, 
though  in  the  I'lastern  States  it  is  rarely  met  with  to  the 
north  of  Connerticut.  Many  ai>])ear  sedentary  in  tin-  warmer 
States,  where  they  l)reed  as  far  south  as  Louisiana,  They  ,u-e 
also  said  to  inhabit  the  Antilles,  and  we  saw  them  not  uncom- 
mon in  the  Territory  of  ( )regon.  In  the  warimr  parts  of  the 
I'nion  they  commence  laying  early  in  .Xpril.  and  in  South 
Carolina  I  heard  their  ])laintive  (Vv  on  the  j(;tli  of  January  ; 
but  at  the  extremity  of  their  range  they  scarcely  begin  to 
breed  before  the  middle  of  May.  1  luy  lay.  as  usual,  two  eggs. 
ol  a  pure  white,  and  make  their  nest  in  the  horizontal  branclu's 
of  a  tree.  It  is  formed  of  a  mere  layer  of  twigs  so  looselv  and 
slovenly  put  together  ns  to  appear  scarcely  sutiticient  to  pre- 
vent the  young  from   falling  out. 


12 


PIGEON  TRIBE. 


if 


h  *ii 


l>y  the  first  fine  days  of  the  early  Southern  spring  we  hear 
from  the  budding  trees  of  the  forest,  or  the  already  blooming 
thicket,  the  mournful  call  of  the  Carolina  Turtle  Dove,  com 
mencing  as  it  were  with  a  low  and  plaintive  sigh,  a'gh  coo  coo 
coo,  repeated  at  impressive  inter\'als  of  half  a  minute,  and 
heard  distinctly  to  a  considerable  distance  through  the  still 
and  balmy  air  of  the  reviving  season.  Ihis  satl  but  pleasing 
note  is  also  more  distinguished  at  this  time,  as  it  seeks  the 
noon-day  warmth  in  which  to  utter  its  complaint,  and  where  it 
is  now  heartl  without  a  rival. 

The  flight  of  this  species  is  rapid  and  protracted,  and,  as 
usual  in  the  genus,  accompanied  by  a  very  audible  whistling 
noise  ;  the  birds  fly  out  often  in  wide  circles,  but  seldom  rise 
above  the  trees,  and  keep  out  near  the  skirt  of  the  forest  or 
round  the  fences  and  fields,  which  they  visit  with  considerable 
familiarity,  gleaning  after  the  crop  has  been  removed,  and  sel- 
dom molesting  the  farmer  except  by  now  and  then  raising  up  a 
few  grains  in  sowing  time,  which  may  happen  to  be  exposed  too 
temptingly  to  view.  The  usual  food  of  this  species  is  various 
kinds  of  grain  and  small  acorns,  as  well  as  the  berries  of  the 
holly,  dogwood,  poke,  whortle,  and  i)artridge  berries,  with 
other  kinds  according  to  the  season.  In  the  nuptial  period 
the  wide  circling  flight  of  the  male  is  often  repeated  around 
his  mate,  towards  whom  he  glides  with  wings  and  tail  exjianded, 
and  gracefully  alights  on  the  same  or  some  adjoining  tree, 
where  she  receives  his  attentions  or  fosters  her  eggs  and  infant 
brood.  On  alighting,  they  sjjread  out  their  flowing  train  in  a 
graceful  altitude,  accompanying  the  motion  by  a  clucking  and 
balancing  t)f  the  neck  and  iioad  evincing  the  lively  emotion 
and  mutual  affection  they  cherish.  When  the  tcmale  now  con- 
fines herself  to  her  eggs,  her  constant  mate  is  seen  feeding  her 
with  a  delicate  and  assiduous  attention. 

The  roosting  places  preferred   by  the  Carolina  Turtle  Doves 
are  among  the  long  and  unshorn  grass  of  neglected  fields,  in 
the  slight  shelter  of  corn-stalks,  or  the  borders  of  meadows  ; 
they  also  occasionally  seek  harbor  among  the  rustling  and  fall 
ing  leaves,  and   amidst   the   thick  branches  of  various   ever- 


GROUND   DOVE. 


13 


greens.  But  in  every  situation,  even  though  in  darkness,  they 
are  so  vigilant  as  to  fly  at  the  instant  of  approa  '-.  They  do 
not  huddle  together,  but  take  up  their  rest  in  solitude,  though 
a  whole  flock  may  be  in  the  same  field ;  they  also  frec^uently 
resort  to  the  same  roosting  places,  if  not  materially  molested. 
It  is  a  hardy  species,  enduring  considerable  cold,  and  indi- 
viduals remain  even  in  the  Middle  as  well  as  the  Southern 
States  throughout  the  year.  These  birds  are  far  less  gregarious 
and  migratory  than  is  the  common  Wild  Pigeon.  When  their 
food  becomes  scanty  in  the  fields  in  the  course  of  the  winter, 
they  approach  the  farm,  feeding  among  the  poultry  with  the 
Blackbirds,  Sparrows,  and  other  guests  of  the  same  accidental 
bounty,  and  if  allowed  without  reprisal,  appear  as  gentle  as 
Domestic  Doves.  Raised  from  the  nest,  they  arc  easily  tamed, 
and  instances  are  known  of  their  breeding  in  confinement. 
Their  flesh  is  also  much  esteemed,  and  by  some  considered  as 
scarcely  inferior  to  that  of  the  Snipe  or  Woodcock. 

The  Mourning  Dove  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  New 
Enj^land,  and  I  liave  seen  a  few  examples  in  New  Brunswick. 
Mr.  iMcIIwraith  reports  it  breeding  sparingly  in  southern  Ontario, 
while  Dr.  Coues  estimates  its  numbers  in  Arizona  by  "millions."' 


)oves 
ds,  in 
(lows  ; 
fall 

ever- 


GROUND   DOVE. 

COLUMBIGALLINA   I'ASSKRIXA. 

Char.  Back  and  rump  grayish  olive,  licad  and  neck  inirplish  red 
glossed  with  blue,  the  feathers  edged  with  grayish  olive  ;  wings  like  hack, 
but  tinged  with  purjjje  and  sputled  with  steel  blue  ;  central  tail-fcatiiers 
like  back,  outer  feathers  blackish  with  paler  tips  ;  lower  parts  purplish 
red,  the  feathers  of  the  breast  streaked  with  grayish  olive;  bill  yellnw, 
tipped  with  '-"lack  ;  feet  yellow.  Fctnalc  and  young  ))aler.  graver,  and 
without  the  purple  tints.     Length  6>2  inches. 

A'l-st.  On  a  tree,  usually  on  a  low  branch,  but  sometimes  15  to  20  feet 
from  the  ground  ;  little  more  than  a  platform  of  twigs. 

£},^gs.     2  ;  dull  white  or  creamy ;  0.S5  X  0.65. 

The  (Iround  Dove  is  an  inhabitant  of  all  the  States  of  the 
Union  south  of  Virginia,  and  is  met  with  also  in  the  West 
Indies.     It  is  common   in  the   =ca   islands  of  the    Southern 


^m 


14 


PIGEON   TRIBE. 


States,  particularly  in  Soutli  Carolina  and  Georgia,  where  it  is 
seen  in  small  flocks  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty.  These  birds 
are  found  usually  upon  the  ground,  and  prefer  the  open  fields 
and  cultivated  tracts  to  the  woods;  their  flight  is  seldom  i)ro- 
tracted,  as  they  fly  out  commonly  only  to  short  distances, 
though  on  the  approach  of  winter  they  retire  to  the  islands 
and  milder  parts  of  the  continent,  arriving  again  at  their 
northern  resorts  early  in  April.  Like  some  other  species,  they 
have  a  frequent  jetting  motion  with  the  tail,  and  the  usual 
tender  cooing  and  gesticulations  of  the  tribe.  They  feed  on 
various  seeds  and  berries,  particularly  on  those  of  the  tooth- 
ache tree,  near  which  they  are  frccjuently  seen  in  the  season. 
They  likewise  feed  on  rice  and  other  small  grain,  and  become 
easily  tamed  and  reconciled  to  the  cage  ;  in  this  way  they  are 
also  occasionally  fattened  for  the  table,  and  are  particularly 
esteemed  by  the  French  planters. 

The  Ci round   Dove  is  still  a  common   l)ird  in   the   Soutii,  and 
wanders  orrasionally  as  far  north  as  the  District  of  Columbia. 


BLUE-HEADED   Ql'AlL-DOVE. 

SrAKM i:xAS  c^'A^ocl■.l'n  \i,A. 

Cmak.  Above,  olive  hiowii  ;  crown  rich  blue,  bordered  by  black;  a 
wide  stri|)e  of  white  from  chin  to  back  of  neck  ;  below,  russet,  the  breast 
tinged  with  piiri)le  ;  throat  black,  edged  with  white.     Length  11  inches. 

AV.v/.     (Jn  a  tree  or  l<j\v  bush  ;  a  platform  (jf  loosely  arranged  twigs. 

/i,i,%'s.     1-2:  white:  1.40  X  1.05. 

This  species  was  observed  by  Audifl)on  on  the  island  of 
Key  West  early  in  May,  —  probably  soon  after  its  arri\al  from 
Cuba,  where  it  aboimds.  It  is  rarely  to  be  seen,  from  its  habit 
of  keeping  on  the  ground  and  living  among  dense  thickets.. 
These  birds  also  inhabit  Jamaica  and  Cuba,  and  in  the  latter 
island  they  are  commonly  caught  in  traps,  and  brought  to 
market  in  great  niunbers,  being  esteemed  as  food,  'i'hey 
admit  of  being  tamed,  but  when  tame  refuse  to  proi)agate. 
The  tail  is  carried  downwards,  as  in  the  Partridge.  They  keep 
in  small  bands,  are  chiefly  seen  on  the  ground,  on  which  they 
often  squat,  and  do  not  roost  on  trees. 


nd  of 
from 
hal)it 
■kets.. 
latter 
It  tf) 
Ihey 

ai^ate. 
keep 
they 


WILD  tirki:y. 

Melkai ;kis  cai.i.oi'.wo. 

Char.  General  pluinaj^c  coi)pciy  bronze,  with  metallic  reflections  of 
co]ipcr  color,  green,  and  purple,  the  feathei.s  etlj;L(i  witii  rich  i)lack  ;  head 
and  neck  naked,  and  of  blue  color  studded  with  exirescences  of  pur))lish 
red  ;  tail  dark  chestnut,  witii  bars  and  a  broad  >ul)terniinal  band  of  black; 
upper  tail-covcrts  and  tips  of  tail-feathers  chestnut  ;  winj^s  dusky,  banded 
by  didl  white.  Male  with  a  consi)icuous  tuft  of  bristles  dejiendinj;  from 
the  breast.  Female  similar,  but  paler  and  duller  Length  ab(nit  4S 
inches. 

A'rsf.  I'ndcr  a  bush  or  amid  thick  undergrowth  or  tall  weeds,  or 
beneath  brush  heap ;  a  depression  in  the  ground  —  natural  or  scratched 
out  —  lined  with  leaves,  grass,  or  feathers. 

AVVJ  10-15  (nsuallv  12);  rich  cream  color  or  [lalc  buff,  spotted  with 
bright  brown  ;  size  variabh.-,  averaging  about  j.50  X   l.So. 

'I'hc  Wild  Turkey,  once  prevalent  throughout  the  whole 
continent  of  North  America,  from  Mexico  and  the  Antilles  to 
the  forests  of  Lower  Canada,  is  now,  by  the  progress  and  iK'n- 
sity  of  population,  chiefly  confined  to  the  thickly  wooded  and 
uncultivated  tracts  of  the  Western  States,  being  particularly 
al)undant  in  the  unsettled  jiarts  of  Ohio,  Kentucky.  Illinois, 
Indiana,  and  throughout  the  vast  forests  of  the  great  valleys  of 
the   Mississippi  ami   Missouri.     On  the    banks   of   the   latter 


■     mj. 


mm 


i6 


TURKEYS  AND   PHEASANTS. 


*i 


r 


river,  however,  where  the  woods  disappear  beyond  the  conflu- 
ence of  the  Platte,  the  Turkey  no  longer  appears ;  and  the 
feathers  of  the  wings,  for  the  purpose  of  pluming  arrows,  form 
an  article  of  small  commerce  between  the  other  natives  and 
their  Western  countrymen.  For  a  thousand  miles  up  the 
Arkansas  and  Red  River,  in  the  wooded  alluvial  lands,  they 
are  not  uncommon.  They  are  met  with  in  small  numbers  in 
Tennessee,  Alabama,  and  West  Florida,  and  are  also  abundant 
in  Texas ;  but  none  have  been  found  in  the  Rocky  Mountains 
or  to  the  westward  of  them.  From  the  Atlantic  States  gener- 
ally they  are  now  nearly  extirpated.  According  to  Audubon,  a 
few  of  these  valuable  birds  are  yet  found  in  the  States  of  New 
York,  Massachusetts,  Vermont,  and  Maine. 

The  Wild  Turkey  is  neither  gregarious  nor  migratory,  but 
from  the  necessity  of  wandering  after  food  ;  it  is  otherwise 
resident  throughout  the  whole  of  the  vast  region  it  inhabits, 
including  the  greatest  diversity  of  climate,  and  it  is  prolific  in 
proportion  to  its  natural  resources  ;  so  that  while  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada  it  only  breeds  once  in  the  year,  in  Jamaica 
and  the  other  West  India  islands  it  is  said  to  raise  two  or 
three  broods  in  the  same  period.  In  quest  of  mast,  these 
birds  therefore  spread  themselves  through  the  country  and 
insensibly  assemble  in  considerable  numbers  to  the  district 
where  their  food  abounds.  These  movements  are  observed 
to  take  place  early  in  October.  The  males,  or  gobblers,  as 
they  are  often  called,  from  their  note,  are  now  seen  apart 
from  the  other  sex  in  companies  varying  from  ten  to  a  hun- 
dred. The  females  move  singly,  or  accompanied  by  their 
almost  independent  brood,  who  all  at  first  assiduously  shun  the 
persecuting  society  of  the  selfish  male.  Yet  after  a  while, 
when  their  food  proves  abundant,  scjiarate  mixed  flocks  of  all 
ages  and  sexes  often  promiscuously  join  in  the  bounteous 
repast.  Their  migration  —  very  unlike  that  of  the  rapid  Pigeons 
—  is  made  almost  entirely  on  foot  until  their  progress  is  perhaps 
arrested  by  a  river.  Their  speed,  however,  is  very  consider- 
able, and  when  surprised  they  more  commonly  trust  to  their 
legs  than  their  wings,  running  nearly  with  the  velocity  of  a 


WILD    TLRKKV. 


17 


he  conflu- 
;  and  the 
rows,  form 
atives  and 
;s  up  the 
ands,  they 
lumbers  in 
)  abundant 
Mountains 
ites  gener- 
Uidubon,  a 
tes  of  New 

;ratory,  but 
otherwise 
it  inhabits, 
,  prohfic  in 
the  United 
in  Jamaica 
ise  two  or 
mast,  these 
(untry   and 
he  district 
observed 
'ohblcrs,  as 
|seen  apart 
to  a  hun- 
by    their 
|y  shun  the 
r  a  while, 
ocks  of  all 
bounteous 
id  Pigeons 
is  perhaps 
consider- 
to  their 
city  of  a 


hound.  On  meeting  with  an  impediment  of  this  kind,  after 
considerable  delay  they  ascend  to  the  tojjs  of  the  tall  trees, 
and  at  the  cluck  of  the  leader  they  laimch  into  the  air  for  the 
op])osite  shore.  'I'he  transit  is  a  matter  of  little  difficulty, 
though  considerable  labor,  fur  the  older  birds  ;  but  the  younger 
and  less  robust  sometimes  fall  short  of  the  bank,  and  ;;re  either 
drowned  or  attain  the  land  by  swimming.  After  crossing,  it  is 
remarked  that  they  often  become  an  easy  prey  to  the  hunter, 
as  they  seem  bewildered  by  the  new  country  in  which  they 
have  arrived,  or  mure  probably  are  fatigued  by  the  novelty  and 
extent  of  their  excursion.  After  long  journeys  and  ])rivations, 
particularly  in  frosty  weather  or  while  the  ground  is  covered 
with  snow,  thev  are  sometimes  reduced  to  the  necessitv  of 
making  their  api)earance  near  farm-houses,  where  they  now 
and  then  even  associate  with  the  poultry  and  enter  the  stables 
and  cribs  after  grain.  In  this  desultory  and  foraging  manner 
they  si)end  the  autumn  and  winter. 

According  to  the  latitude  and  the  advancement  of  the  sea- 
son, though  always  very  early  in  the  s])ring,  they  begin  to  be 
actuated  by  the  instinct  of  pro|iagation.  The  males  commence 
their  gobbling  and  court  the  stjciety  of  their  retiring  mates. 
The  sexes  roost  apart,  but  in  the  same  vicinity,  and  at  the  yelp 
of  the  female  the  gobbling  becomes  reiterated  and  extravagant. 
If  heard  from  the  ground,  a  general  rush  ensues  to  the  spot ; 
and  whether  the  hen  ajipears  or  not,  the  males,  thus  acciden- 
tally brought  together,  spread  out  their  train,  cpiiver  and 
depress  their  rigid  wings,  and  strutting  and  puffing  with  a 
pompous  gait,  often  make  battle,  and  directing  their  blows  at 
the  head,  occasionally  flestroy  each  other  in  a  fit  of  jealousv. 
.As  with  our  domestic  fowls,  s(,'verai  hens  usually  follow  a  fivor- 
ite  cock,  roosting  in  his  immediate  neighborhood  until  they 
begin  to  lay.  when  they  withdraw  from  his  resort  to  save  their 
eggs,  which  he  would  destroy  if  discovered.  The  females  are 
therefore  seen  in  his  company  only  for  a  tew  hours  in  tlie  dav. 
Soon  after  this  period,  however,  the  male  loses  his  ardor,  and 
the  advances  of  affection  now  become  reversed,  the  hen  seek- 
ing out  the  society  of  her  reluctant  mate.    In  moonlight  nights 

vol,.    II.  —  2 


mmmmm 


i8 


TUKKEVS   AND   PHEASANTS. 


?i 


the  gobbling  of  the  male  is  henrd  at  intervals  of  a  few  minutes 
for  hours  together,  and  affords  often  a  gratifying  means  of  their 
discovery  to  the  wakeful  hunter.  After  this  period  the  males 
become  lean  and  emaciated  so  as  to  be  even  unable  to  fly,  and 
seek  to  hide  themselves  from  their  mates  in  the  closest  thick- 
ets, where  they  are  seldom  seen.  They  now  also  jirobably 
undergo  their  moult,  and  are  so  dry,  lean,  and  lousy,  until  the 
ripening  of  the  mast  and  berries,  as  to  be  almost  wholly  indi- 
gestible and  destitute  of  nutriment  as  food.  So  constant  is 
this  impoverished  state  that  the  Indians  have  a  proverb,  "As 
lean  as  a  Turkey  in  summer." 

About  the  middle  of  April,  in  Kentucky,  the  hens  begin  to 
provide  for  the  reception  of  their  eggs  and  secure  their  pros- 
pects of  incubation.  The  nest,  merely  a  slight  hollow  scratched 
in  the  ground  and  lined  with  withered  leaves,  is  made  by  the 
side  of  a  fallen  log  or  beneath  the  shelter  of  a  thicket  in  a 
dry  place.  The  eggs,  from  lo  to  15,  are  whitish,  covered  with 
red  dots  and  measuring  two  and  seven  eighths  inches  in  length 
by  two  in  breadth,  and  rather  pointed.  While  laying,  the 
female,  like  the  domestic  bird,  always  approaches  the  nest  with 
great  caution,  varying  the  course  at  almost  every  visit  and 
often  concealing  iier  eggs  entirely  by  cohering  them  with 
leaves.  Trusting  to  the  similarity  of  her  homely  garb  with  the 
withered  foliage  around  her,  the  hen,  as  with  several  other 
birds,  on  being  carefully  approached  sits  close  without  mov- 
ing. She  seldom  indeed  abandons  her  nest,  and  her  attach- 
ment increases  with  the  growing  life  of  her  charge.  The 
domestic  bird  has  been  known,  not  unfrequently,  to  sit  stead- 
fastly on  her  eggs  until  she  died  of  hunger.  As  soon  as  the 
young  have  emerged  from  the  shell  and  begun  to  run  about, 
the  parent  by  her  cluck  calls  them  around  her  and  watches 
with  redoubled  suspicion  the  approach  of  their  enemies,  which 
she  can  perceive  at  an  almost  inconceivable  distance.  To 
avoid  moisture,  which  might  i)n)ve  fiital  to  them,  they  now 
keep  on  the  higher  sheltered  knolls ;  and  in  about  a  fortnight, 
instead  of  roosting  on  the  ground,  they  begin  to  fly  at  night  to 
some  wide  and  low  branch,  where  they  still  continue  to  nestle 


WILD   TL'KKEV. 


19 


V  minutes 
IS  of  their 
the  males 
to  fly,  and 
iest  thick- 
probably 
,  until  the 
holly  indi- 
onstant  is 
•verb,  "  As 

is  begin  to 
their  i)ros- 
scralchecl 
ade  by  the 
hicket  in  a 
)vered  with 
s  in  length 
laying,  the 
e  nest  with 
visit   and 
lem    with 
rb  with  the 
eral   other 
lOut  mov- 
ler  attach- 
rge.     The 
o  sit  stead- 
Don  as  the 
run  about, 
nd  watches 
nies,  which 
tance.      To 
they  now 
I  fortnight, 
at  night  to 
le  to  nestle 


I 


-if 


under  the  extended  wings  of  their  protecting  parent.  At 
length  they  resort  during  the  day  to  more  open  tracts  or 
prairies,  in  (jiiest  of  berries  of  various  kinds,  as  well  as  grass- 
hoppers and  other  uisects.  'I'he  old  birds  are  very  partial  to 
pecan  nuts,  winter  grapes,  and  other  kinds  of  fruits.  They  also 
cat  buds,  herbs,  grain,  and  large  insects  ;  but  their  most  gen- 
eral and  important  fare  is  acorns,  after  which  they  make  exten- 
sive migrations.  I>y  the  month  of  August  the  young  are  nearly 
independent  of  their  parent,  and  become  enabled  to  attain  a 
safe  roost  in  the  higher  branches  of  the  trees,  i'lie  young 
cocks  now  show  the  tuft  of  hair  upon  the  breast  and  begin  to 
strut  and  gobble,  and  the  young  hens  already  purr  and  leap. 

( )ne  of  the  most  crafty  enemies  which  the  W  ild  Turkey  has 
to  encounter  is  the  lynx,  or  wild-cat,  who  frequently  seizes  his 
prey  by  advancing  round  and  waiting  its  api)roach  in  ambush. 

Like  most  other  ( iallinaceous  birds,  these  Turkeys  are  fond 
of  wallowing  on  the  ground  and  dusting  themselves.  When 
approached  by  moonlight,  they  are  readily  shot  from  their 
roosting-tree,  one  after  another,  without  any  api*rehension 
of  their  danger,  though  tiiey  would  dodge  or  lly  instantly 
at  the  sight  of  the  Owl.  The  (lobblers,  during  the  season  of 
their  amorous  excitement,  have  been  known  even  to  strut  over 
their  dead  companions  while  on  the  ground,  instead  of  seek- 
ing their  own  safety  by  tlight. 

In  the  spring  the  male  Turkeys  are  called  by  a  whistle  made 
of  the  second  joint-bone  of  tiie  wing  of  the  bird,  which  ])ro- 
duces  a  sound  somewhat  similar  to  the  voice  of  the  female  ; 
and  on  coming  up  to  this  call  they  are  conse(|uently  shot. 
'I'hey  are  likewise  commonly  caught  in  (piadrangular  |)ens 
made  of  logs  crossing  each  other,  from  which  is  cut  a  slanting 
covereil  i)assage  sufficient  to  allow  the  entrance  of  the  Turkev. 
C'orn  is  then  scattered  in  a  train  to  this  cage  for  some  distance 
as  well  as  within;  and  the  neighboring  birds  in  the  surround- 
ing woods  having  discovered  the  grain,  call  on  each  other  by  a 
clucking,  and  entering  one  at  a  time,  they  become  secured  in 
the  pen,  as,  for  the  purpose  of  escape,  they  constantly  direct 
their  view  upwards  instead  of  stooping  to  go  out  by  the  path 
which  they  had  entered. 


■■M 


I, 


I 


>■ 


f 


20 


TURKEYS  AND   I'HKASANTS. 


The  male  ^^'il(l  Turkey  weighs  commonly  from  15  to  18 
pounds,  is  not  unfrequentiy  as  much  as  25,  and  sometimes, 
according  to  Audubon,  even  36.  The  hen  commonly  wciglis 
about  9  pounds,  and  the  usual  price  for  a  Turkey  from  the 
Indians  is  25  cents.  The  domestic  bird,  when  irritated  by  the 
sight  of  any  remarkal)le  object,  struts  out  with  exjjanded  tail, 
and  drooping  his  stiffened  wings,  swells  out  his  wattles,  which 
become  red  and  turgid,  and  advancing  with  a  grave  and 
haughty  air,  utters  a  humming  sound,  now  and  then  accompa- 
nied by  a  harsh  and  dissonant  n//:,  orook,  orook,  repeating  it 
at  every  whistle  or  unusual  sound  that  strikes  his  ear.  The 
exhibition  of  a  red  rag  is  also  sure  to  excite  his  wrath  and 
induce  him  to  rush  with  stupid  temerity  at  the  disagreeable 
object  which  he  exerts  himself  to  injure  or  destroy.  A  whole 
flock  sometimes  will  unite  in  chasing  a  common  cock  from  the 
l)oultry  yard  in  consecjuence  merely  of  some  whimsical  antip- 
athy. From  these  singular  dislikes,  this  cowardice  and  folly, 
the  Turkey  bears  in  France  the  same  proverbal  imputation  of 
stupidity  which  in  Kngland  is  bestowed  on  the  (loose.  The 
feathers  of  the  wild  bird,  attached  to  strips  of  bass,  were 
anciently  employed  by  the  aborigines  for  tipj^ets  and  cloaks, 
and  were  so  arranged  that  the  brilliant  surface  formed  the 
outside  of  the  dress  ;  and  in  later  times  similar  dresses  have 
also  been  made  by  the  t'herokees. 

The  Turkey  was  first  sent  from  Mexico  to  Spain  in  the  six- 
teenth century,  and  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  in  the  year 
1524,  it  was  introduced  into  England,  and  soon  after  into 
France  and  other  portions  of  Europe. 

Since  Nuttall  wrote,  this  famous  bird  has  become  extinct  in  the 
New  England  States,  as  well  as  in  Canada.  \'ory  early  m  colonial 
days  it  had  disappeared  from  the  Province  of  Quebec,  for  at  the 
height  of  its  abundance  this  bird  was  found  only  within  a  limited 
area  along  the  valley  of  the  Ottawa,  in  the  vicinity  ot  the  Chaudiere 
Falls.  —  if  I  correctly  interpret  the  words  of  I'ierre  Bouehe,  who 
was  governor  of  the  Province  in  1663.  Hy  some  chance  several 
small  flocks  survived  to  a  much  later  date  in  Ontario.  Mcllwraith 
reports  that  it  was  numerous  along  the  southern  border  as  late  as 
1856,  and  he  thinks  a  few  still  remain. 


WILD   TLRKliV. 


21 


15  to  18 
)nietimes, 
ly  weighs 

from  the 
efl  by  the 
nded  tail, 
les,  which 
;rave    and 
acconipa- 
:pealing  it 
ear.     The 
wrath  and 
isagreeable 
A  wliole 
k  from  the 
lical  antip- 

and  folly, 
putation  of 
30se.  The 
bass,  were 
md  cloaks, 
brmed  the 
•esses  have 

in  the  six- 
in  the  year 
after  into 

\-tinct  in  the 
n  colonial 
for  at  the 
in  a  limited 
Chaudiore 
Jouche,  who 
ance  several 
Mcllwraith 
er  as  late  as 


-m 


In  New  England,  as  in  (Quebec,  the  early  solders  made  havoc 
witli  the  Hocks,  and  flrove  into  tlie  wilderness  tiiose  they  did  not 
destro).  John  Josseiyii.  writing  in  1O72,  states  tiuit  the  bird  was 
becoming  rare,  wliile  tiiirty  years  before  it  had  been  abundant ;  but 
probably  Turkeys  were  plentiful  during  part,  at  least,  of  tiie  last 
century,  thougii  frequenting  less  accessible  localities.  They  were, 
however,  i)eing  gradually  reduced  in  numbers  by  the  combined 
attacks  of  the  whites  and  Indians,  and  the  lessened  flocks  contin- 
ued retiring  farther  and  farther  from  the  settlements. 

In  Connecticut  the  year  1813  is  given  as  that  in  which  the  last 
example  was  seen,  wiiile  a  few  remained  hidden  among  the  hills  of 
souliiern  X'ermont  until  1S42;  and  the  last  Wild  Turkey  that  is 
known  to  have  been  seen  in  .Massachusetts  was  shot  on  Mount 
Tom  in  1847. 

At  the  |)resent  day  some  small  flocks  are  to  be  found  in  a  few  of 
the  heavily  timberefl  and  thinly  poi^ulated  districts  of  .Michigan, 
Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  and  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  wild  moun- 
tainous regions  of  the  Southern  States.  A  few  may  be  hidden  also 
in  isolated  forests  in  Louisiana  and  Mississippi;  but  in  all  of  these 
States  the  number  of  l)irds  must  l)e  small,  and  is  bein^  rapidly 
reduced.  Probablv  nowhere  east  of  the  .Mississippi  Ki\er  are 
Turkeys  at  all  numerous,  excepting  in  Florida,  and  in  that  .State 
they  may  continue  numerous  long  after  tiiey  have  been  externu- 
nated  elsewhere,  owing  to  the  almost  inaccessible  nature  of  the 
country  to  which  the  remaining  flocks  have  retreated,  lieyond 
the  .Mississippi  these  birds  are  still  common,  especially  along  the 
lower  Kio  (Irande  and  (probably)  in  Iiuliaii  Territory  and  southern 
Missouri,  though  Colonel  Goss  reports  them  diminishing  rapidly  in 
Kansas. 

Farther  west.  Wild  Turkeys  are  plentiful ;  but  the  major  portion 
of  these  are  of  the  .Mexican  form,  which  differs  from  the  tyjje  prin- 
cipally in  having  the  up])er  tail-coverts  and  the  tips  of  tiie  tail- 
feathers  whitish  instead  of  chestnut. 


t  • 


I' 


TURKEYS  AND   I'llEASAMS. 


KN(;LISH    I'HMXSANT. 

J'HASIAM'S   ( ( )l.t-HICUS. 

Char.  Male  :  plumage  cxqiiisittly  hciuitiful,  l)iit  too  variegated  t(i  l)e 
minutely  described  in  a  short  paragraph,  'i'he  princijial  colors  are  l)ro\\n 
of  several  shades,  orange-red,  yellow,  and  black  ;  and  these  are  ilistribiited 
in  handsome  markings  and  pencillings.  Head  and  neck  steel  blue,  with 
metallic  relleclions  ni  green  and  purple  ;  breast  golden  red,  each  leather 
i:i\i<,L<\  with  velvet  black  ;  tail-feathers  very  long,  the  two  middle  feathers 
sometimes  measuring  two  feet,  —  yeliowisli  brown,  with  narrow  liars  of 
bhick.  Female  :  duller  ;  yellowish  brown,  with  markings  of  darker  brown 
and  some  black.  Ixngth  of  male,  inclutling  tail-feathers,  about  3  feet;  of 
female  about  ::  feet. 

A'lS/.  In  thicket  or  dense  hedge,  a  slight  hollow  scratched  out  by 
female,  partially  lined  with  looselv  arranged  leaves  and  grass.  Occa- 
sion,dly  a  deserted  nest  in  a  tree  has  been  used. 

/ix,'>^'-  ^-'4  (usually  about  12,  sometimes  16  or  20),  olive  brown,  some- 
times bluish  green  ;   1.S5X  1.45. 

I  Iiave  called  tliis  tiic  •'  I'Jig;lish  "  I'lieasant  to  (listiii,i;uisli  it  from 
otiicr  species  that  have  been  introduced  into  this  country.  In 
Knfrland  it  is  known  as  •'  IMieasant."  or  '*  Coninion  I'lieasant."' 
It  i.s  not  indigenous  to  (Ircat  Hritain,  tlioiitili  when  it  was  intro- 
duced there  is  not  known,  some  writers  assertinjj;  that  it  was 
carried  by  the  Romans,  while  others  consider  the  Norman  Con- 
quest responsible  for  its  introduction.  The  true  lionie  of  the  bird 
is  tlie  valleys  of  the  Caucasus  and  tiio  eastern  siiores  of  the  Cas- 
pian .Sea.  but  it  has  been  introduced  into  almost  everv  countrv  of 
Kurojie.  In  (Ireat  Britain  very  few  thorouy^h-bred  specimens  are 
to  be  found,  most  of  the  birds  dis])laying  a  collar  of  wiiitc,  —  whicii 
proves  their  relationship  to  the  Rinsj-necked  Pheasants  broui^ht 
from  China.  Other  species,  as  well,  have  been  introduced  and  suc- 
cessfnllv  bred  witli  both  true  colihiciis  and  liybrids. 

Within  a  few  years  the  present  species  has  been  introduced  into 
this  country  by  Mr.  C.  !>.  Cory — wiio  loosed  several  i)airs  on 
( Ireat  Island,  off  the  southern  shore  of  Cape  Cod  —  and  by  a  club 
of  sportsmen  who  have  stocked  Jekyl  Island,  on  the  (ieor<;ian 
coast.  Both  colonies  have  become  naturalized  and  are  increasins:;. 
Several  other  species  have  been  inii)orted  from  China  and  Japan, 
and  liberated  in  Oregon  and  British  Columbia,  where  they  are 
increasing  rapidly. 


J 


;atc(l  to  be 
arc  l)rn\vii 
[lisiriliiited 
bliiL,  with 
ich  feather 
lie  fcallars 
nv  bars  of 
rker  l)ro\vn 
I  3  feet;  of 

led   out    by 
iss.     Occa- 

o\vn,  some- 

sb  it  from 

iiiitry.     In 

I'beasant." 

was  intro- 

lat    it  was 

man  Con- 

f  tlic  bird 

f  tlic  Cas- 

country  of 

imens  are 

:;,  —  wbicb 

s  l)rou,!j;bt 

d  and  siic- 

duced  into 

i)airs  on 

1)V  a  ilub 

(leortiian 

ncroasing. 

ind  Japan. 

tbey  are 


St 


-■'i 

it 


1 


ison-wiirrK. 

QUAIL.      PAKTKinr.F.. 

("olINTS    VIKi-.IMANlS. 

CliAR.  Above,  rcddisli  l)rown,  mottled  with  gray,  black,  wliitc,  and 
buff  ;  stripe  over  eves  and  patch  on  throat  wiiile  or  buffy  wliite,  dark- 
est in  females  :  lower  jiarts  buffv  white  with  brown  and  black  markings. 
Lengtli  about  lo  inches. 

Xis/.  In  pasture  or  field,  liid  amid  thick  growlh  or  under  a  bush  or  tuft 
of  long  grass  ;  inadi'  of  grass,  weerls,  and  leaves  loosely  arranged. 

/•y;'.r.  S-20  (usuallv  I  5  to  tS,  aud  a  set  of  JS  has  been  recorded):  white; 
i..:o  X  1. 00. 

'Ihe  I'aftridije  of  .\mcrira,  oxcoedingly  i)r()lific,  has  extended 
its  colonies  from  the  inclement  coasts  of  W'w  i;n£j;land  and  the 
western  plains  of  Missouri  to  the  niihl  latitudes  of  Mexico  and 
Honduras.  In  Jamaica,  where  it  has  long  been  introduced 
and  naturalized,  the  inhabitants  distingtiish  it  as  the  Partridi^r. 
—  an  appellation  sufficiently  prevalent  in  variotis  parts  of  the 
United  States.     At  the  north,  these  birils  are  rarely  seen  to  the 


% 


24 


(IRUUSi:    lAMll.N. 


cxtrcniity  of  New  Hampshire,  and  ilii»  limit,  no  doubt,  is  ditci- 
miiiLii  by  the  k-ngth  and  severity  of  the  winters  wliich  prevail 
in  this  rigorous  (  hmate.  Tliey  seldom  migrate,  except  to  short 
distances  in  (|uesl  of  food,  and  (c)nse(|Uenlly  oftin  perinh 
beneath  deej)  drifu  of  snow,  so  that  their  exisleiK  e  i>  rendered 
impo^^^^ible  in  tiie  Arctic  winters  of  our  high  latitudes.  Indeed, 
sometimes  they  ha\e  bei-n  so  thinned  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try that  sporl.-rnen  ac(|uainled  with  their  local  attachments 
liavi'  been  known  to  introdu(  e  tiu'm  into  places  for  brnding 
and  to  pre\enl  tlu'ir  ihreateiieil  extermination.  So  sedentary 
are  thi'  habits  of  this  mteresting  l)ird  that  until  tiie  llock  is 
wholly  r(juted  by  the  unfeeling  huntei  they  continue  faithfully 
attached  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  s\m{  where  they  have  been 
raised  and  supported. 

John^ton,  W'illoughby,  and  Ray  distinguished  the  Mexican 
bird  by  the  ([uaint  title  of  the  "(^)uairs  Image."  The  first 
settler^  of  New  England  aUo  thought  the\-  saw  in  this  familiar 
bird  the  (^)uail  of  the  country  they  had  relin(|uished.  The 
two  birds  are,  however,  too  different  to  recpiire  any  critical 
comparison.  Our^  is  even  jusll)-  considered  b)'  Muropean 
ornithologists  as  the  ty])e  of  a  i)eculiar  .American  geiuis,  to 
which  has  been  gi\en  the  name  of  Okivx  by  Stevens,  —  the 
original  api)ellation  of  the  (Juail,  or  J(7v//.\  ictiirnix,  as  kn(jwn 
to  the  ancient  (Ireeks.  The  name  of  C'oi.is,  contracted  l)y 
liuflbn  from  the  barbarous  appellation  of  some  Mexican  spe- 
cies, has  been  adopted  by  C'uvier,  Temniinck,  and  Vicillot. 

.\lthough  there  is  some  general  resemblance  between  the 
Quail  of  the  old  and  new  continent  in  their  external  api)earance, 
their  habits  and  instincts  are  exceedingly  different.  The  true 
(^)uail  is  a  noted  bird  of  passage,  with  a  favorable  wind  leaving 
luirope  for  the  warmer  parts  of  Asia  at  the  a])])roach  of  winter  ; 
and  with  an  ausjiicious  gale  again  returning  in  the  spring,  in 
such  amazing  numbers  that  some  of  the  islands  of  the  .Archi- 
pelago derived  their  name  from  their  abundant  visits.  On  the 
west  coast  of  Naples,  within  the  small  space  of  four  or  five  miles 
as  many  as  a  hundred  thousand  have  been  taken  in  a  day  by 
nets.     Our  Partridge,  though  occupying  so  wide  an  extent  of  the 


f 


i 


.A 
f 


i!  i 


I 


Huij-wnni:. 


s  (Kii'i- 

pri'vail 

t')  short 

Iiidc'Ctl. 
le  coiin- 
(  hincnts 
brt'idiii}^ 
,f<li.'iuaiv 

flock  Is 
fiiillifully 
avc  bfi'ii 


Mexican 
'I'hc  first 
s  familiar 
c(l.     Tiic 
y  critical 
iMiropcan 
ii,ciuis,   to 
—  the 
kiKJwn 
ictcd  by 
ican  spc- 
illot. 

wccn  tlic 
)carancc, 
The  true 
1  leaving 
f  winter  ; 
pring.  in 
le  Archi- 
( )n  the 
ive  miles 
a  (lay  by 
nt  of  the 


25 


Atlantic  and  Western  States,  and  even  penetratmg  into  Me\ic(j, 
is  scarcely  ever  a  bird  of  passage  ;  it  only  assemhles  m  smgle 
families,  which  may  sonuiimes  be  rediu cd  to  four  or  fi\e  by 
at  ( idents,  and  at  others  iiu  reascd  to  twenty  or  thirty.  The 
instint  tivi-  so(  lability  of  this  bud  (ontuuies  uniformly,  until 
interruplid  m  llu-  spring  bv  the  desire  of  pairing.  At  this 
season  the  eager  call  of  tiie  male  is  often  he.iid,  but  it  nearly 
ceases  when  he  is  mated,  and  is  only  long  continued  by  those 
who  are  dissatisfied  and  have  been  unsiu  cessfiil  in  their  con 
nections  ;  and  by  imitating  the  reply  of  the  female,  the  male 
is  easily  decojed  to  ap|>roa(  h  linvards  the  enemy  who  thus 
alluri's  him.  ( )n  these  oicasions,  when  the  rival  candidates 
happen  to  meet,  they  exhibit,  the  only  time  in  their  lives,  a 
(jiiarrelsome  disposition,  fighting  with  obstinacy,  until  the  con- 
tenti'd  victor  at  last  gains  the  fiekl  with  his  submissive  mate. 
'1  he  conjugal  selection  being  now  cc^nchided,  they  tire  nut 
exceeded  by  any  of  the  fiMthered  race  in  their  mutual  attach- 
ment and  (  ommon  affection  for  tluir  brood.  In  the  vagrant 
(Juail.  the  want  of  reciproi  ,il  and  durable  attachment  gives  rise 
U)  a  wholly  dilfrreiu  character  in  instinctive  morality,  a  com- 
mon (oncnbinage  jjrevailing  among  them,  as  with  our  Cow 
'i"roo])ials.  Instead  of  the  mild  sociability  so  prevalent  with 
our  I'urtridge,  they  are  pugnacious  to  a  pnn-erb  :  ".As  (luariel- 
sonie  as  Quails  in  a  cage."  was  an  ancient  re])r()of  to  striving 
children,  'i'heir  selfishness  forbids  all  mutual  alliance,  and  thev 
only  find  safety  from  each  other  in  roaming  s(jlitude. 

Partridges  are  not  partial  to  the  depths  of  the  forest,  though 
they  sometimes  seek  the  shelter  of  trees,  and  perch  on  the 
low  branches  or  hide  among-,!  the  brush  and  underwood. 
Their  favorite  food,  however,  commonly  conducts  them  to 
the  open  fields,  where  they  glean  uj)  various  Vinds  of  gr.iin, 
and  are  i)articularly  fond  of  rye  and  buckwheat,  as  well  as 
Indian  corn  ;  and  when  not  too  nuu  h  disturbed  by  the  s])orts- 
man,  will  often,  particularly  in  the  autumn  and  winter,  fearh'ssly 
assemble  ahjng  the  most  public  roads,  or  around  the  barn 
and  stable,  in  search  of  a  scanty  pittance  among  the  domes- 
tic   fowls ;    like  them,  also,  very  industriously    scratching  up 


t 


26 


GROUSE   FAMILY. 


r 


'     * ' 


straw,  and  probably  the  ground,  in  (juest  of  grain  and  insects 
which,  with  seeds  and  various  kinds  of  buds  and  berries,  as 
well  as  broken  acorns,  according  to  the  season,  often  consti- 
tute a  considerable  part  of  their  native  diet. 

Remaining  with  us  commonly  the  whole  year,  the  little  social 
band  often  suffer  from  the  inclemency  of  the  seasons.  At 
this  time  they  perch  together  on  some  rising  ground  beneath 
the  shelter  of  brush  or  briers,  and  formmg  a  close  circle,  with 
their  heads  outward  to  discern  any  approach  of  danger,  they 
thus  ';;reatly  aid  each  other  by  their  mutual  warmth  to  resist  the 
chilling  effects  of  frost.  It  is  probable,  however,  they  have  no 
great  fear  of  snow  when  together,  as  they  may  often  be  seen 
patiently  encountering  the  storm,  as  its  white  wreaths  invade 
them,  and  frecjuently  on  the  arrival  of  a  thaw,  unfortunate 
coveys,  suspecting  no  danger,  are  found  buried  beneath  the 
inundating  waste,  huddled  together  in  their  accustomed  man- 
ner. They  are  observed  even,  on  the  approach  of  dinger, 
to  rush  into  the  snow  for  shelter;  and  it  is  only  when  the  drift 
becomes  so  consolidated  by  a  frozen  glazing  of  sleet  as  to 
resist  all  their  efforts  to  move  that  it  proves  their  grave,  rather 
than  their  retreat. 

As  they  happen  to  afford  a  favorite  and  delicate  article  of 
food,  every  means  which  gun  and  trap  can  effect  are  ])ut  in 
operation  against  the  innocent  race.  Their  very  sociability 
often  affords  means  for  their  destruction  ;  for  while  crowded 
together  in  a  ring,  a  dozen  or  more  have  been  killed  at  a  shot ; 
and  the  small  remains  of  the  unfortunate  covey,  feeling  their 
weakness  and  solitude,  are  said  to  join  some  neighboring  brood, 
for  whom  they  soon  form  the  same  friendly  atta;  hnient  they  had 
for  the  fraternity  they  have  lost. 

From  the  latter  end  of  August  to  the  month  of  Marc  h.  the 
markets  of  all  our  principal  cities  are  often  stocked  with  this 
favorite  game. 

Some  time  in  the  month  of  May  the  (^)uail,  at  the  bottom  of 
a  sheltering  tuft  of  grass,  scratches  out  a  cavity  for  her  nest, 
which  is  usually  lined  substantially  with  such  withered  leaves 
and  dry  grass  as  hajipen  to  be  convenient.     'Ihough  generally 


M 


BOB-WHITE. 


27 


I,  the 
ilh  this 

ttom  of 

■r  nest, 

loaves 

■nerally 


open,  it  is  sometimes  partially  covered  by  art  and  accident  ; 
but  no  studious  concealment  is  ever  practised  by  this  artless 
bird.  The  eggs  are  from  15  to  20;  and  imlike  the  spotted 
charge  of  the  true  (^uail,  are  white,  and  rather  suddenly  nar- 
rowed at  the  smaller  end.  'I'he  periotl  of  incubation  is  about 
four  weeks.  They  have  generally  two  broods  in  a  season,  as 
young  birds  scarcely  fledged  may  be  observed  here  as  late  as 
the  beginning  of  October.  When  this  happens,  it  is  not 
uncommon  to  find  both  coveys  still  associating  with  their  ))ar- 
ents.  I, ike  most  other  (lallinaceous  birds,  the  young  run  about 
as  soon  as  they  are  freed  from  the  shell,  and  gain  the  com])lete 
use  of  their  wings  in  about  a  fortnight  from  hatching.  They 
are  now  attentively  conducted  by  the  mother,  and  occasionally 
by  either  i)arent,  in  ([uest  of  their  appropriate  food,  and  called 
together  in  a  voice  resembling  the  low  twittering  of  chit  kens. 
.-\t  times  they  shelter  beneath  the  wings  of  the  mother:  but  if 
the  little  busy  flock  are  startled  by  danger,  artifice  rather  thaw 
courage  is  the  instinctive  means  of  safety  em])loyed  by  all 
the  party.  The  parents  flutter  in  the  path  in  real  as  well  as 
simulated  distress  :  and  the  young,  instantly  aware  of  their  criti- 
cal situati(  ',  make  no  useless  attempts  to  fly,  but  vanish  singly, 
and  closelv  niiling  among  the  withered  grass,  which  thev  almost 
resemble  in  color,  are  thus  fortun'ately  rendered  nearly  alto- 
gether invisible.  The  alarm  at  length  dissipated,  the  tender, 
cautious  call  of  the  parents  again  reassembles  the  little  grateful 
family. 

'I'he  eggs  of  the  (^)uail  have  been  often  hatchcfl  bv  the 
domestic  hen  ;  but  the  vagrant  disposition  of  the  diu'iuutive 
brood,  the  difficulty  of  jirocuring  their  proper  food,  and  the 
superior  attention  they  require  over  chickens,  prevent  the  possi- 
bility of  their  domestication  :  and  even  when  they  have  survived 
the  winter  in  this  state,  thr  return  of  spring  leads  them  to 
wantler  off  in  compliance  with  th.it  powerful  instinct  which 
inspires  them  to  a  mutual  separation. 

So  familiar  are  these  little  birds  that  occasionally,  as  de- 
scribed by  Wilson,  they  have  been  known  to  lay  thi  ir  eggs  in 
the  nest  of  the  dom^^stic  hen,  when  situated  at  any  considerable 


a,-Ta.>.f>*>>p^t^>T»f^.WT<-*,g».y^ff 


28 


GROUSi:    I'AMILV. 


distance  from  the  habitation.  From  two  eggs  thus  deposited 
were  raised  a  pair  of  young  (Quails  whieii,  when  abandoned  by 
tile  lien,  showed  their  social  attachment  by  accompanying  the 
cows.  These  they  followed  night  and  morning  from  the  pas- 
ture, and  when  the  cattle  were  housed  for  the  winter  our  little 
i'artridges  took  up  their  luunble  abode  in  the  stable,  iiut 
even  these,  so  docile,  and  separated  from  all  their  race,  on  the 
return  of  spring  obeyed  the  instinct  of  nature,  and  wandered 
away  to  their  tiongenial  woods  ami  thickets.  It  is  probable  at 
times,  as  asserted  by  observers,  that  our  (Quails,  like  some 
other  birds,  lay  their  eggs  in  the  nests  of  each  other, — a  fact 
which  would  only  be  in  accordance  with  their  usual  friendship 
and  mutual  fimiliarity. 

The  American  (^uail,  according  to  \\'ils(jn,  has  likewise,  in 
turn,  been  employed  to  hatch  the  eggs  of  tlie  domestic  hen, 
which  she  brought  out,  definded,  and  i'cd  as  her  own  off.p'ing. 
She  even  succeeded  in  imparting  to  them  a  portion  of  her  own 
instinct  to  such  a  degree  that  when  alarmed  they  hid  in  the 
grass  and  ran  timidly  from  sight  like  so  many  young  Par- 
tridges, exiiibitingall  the  wildness  of  unreclaimed  birds.  .\  flock 
of  these  (Quails,  however  attentively  fed,  and  confined,  always 
exhibit  a  great  degree  of  fear  and  shyness ;  their  attachments 
remaining  tndy  natural,  they  apjK'ar  only  to  recogni/e  tlic  ( om- 
pany  of  each  other.  But  a  solitary  mdividual  becomes  friendly 
and  familiar  to  the  hand  that  feeds  it,  and  for  want  of  more 
congenial  riocaety  forms  a  similar  attachment  to  its  kee])er. 
In  the  month  of  September,  the  little  l)rood,  now  nearly  full 
grown,  assemble  in  famihes  ;  and  at  this  period,  as  well  as 
i;.  the  spring  and  early  part  of  summer,  the  clear,  whistling 
call  (jf  the  male  is  often  heard.  This  well-known  note  is 
very  similar  to  the  pronunciation  of  the  words  />(>/>  i<<hih\ 
to  which  is  often  added  a  supi)ressed  introductcjry  whistle. 
\Vhile  seated,  perhaps  on  a  fence-rail,  or  the  low  limb  of  an 
orchard  tree,  this  ])eculiar  note,  sometimes  interpreted  in 
showery  hay-weather  into  the  augury  of  more  a>et,  )noiy  lorf, 
continues  uninterruptedly,  at  short  intervals,  for  more  than 
half  an  hour  at  a  time.     1  )u  I'ratz  says  these  birds  are  known 


IJOIi-WIIITE. 


29 


to  the  aborigines  by  tlie  name  of  lio-oux  {lw-70cc),  which  is 
also   imitative   of  the    call    they    sometimes    utter,  as    I  have 
heard,  early  in  the  morning,  from  a  partly  domesticated  covey. 
When    assembled    in   a  corner  and  about   to    take  wing,   the 
same    low,   rhieken-like   twittering,    as    is    employed     by   the 
mother    towanls    her    more    tender    brood,  is    repeated;   but 
when  dispersed,  by  necessary  occupation,  or  alarm,   they  are 
reassembled    by    a   loud    and    oft-repeated     call    of    anxious 
and  social  mquiry.     This  note,  'ho-ioce,  is,  however,  so  strongly 
instmctive   as   to  be  commonly  uttered    without   occasion,    by 
the   male   even   in   a   cage,  surrounde.l  by  his  kindred   brood'; 
so   that   this  expression,   at   stated  times,  is  only  one  of  gen- 
eral    sympathy  and    satisfacti,;n,   like   that   of  a   singing   bird 
utteretl  when  solitary  and  confined   to  a  cage. 

In  conseciuence  of  the  shortness  and  concavi'ty  of  its  wings 
in  common  with  mo.t  other  birds  of  the  same  f.mily  the  Ameri- 
can  (^uail   usually  makes  a   loud   whining   noise   in    its  (bght 
which  IS  seldom  long  continued,  always  laborious,  an.l  generally 
so  steady  as  to  afford   no  .lifticult   mark   for  the  expert  sports- 
man.    According  to  the  observations  of  .\udubon.  the  llight  of 
our    Partridge   an.l    Crouse,   when    not    hurrie.l    bv  alarm     is 
attended  with  very  little  more   noise  than  that  of  other  binls 
\\hatever  may  be  the  fict.  when  our  little  Partridges  alight  on 
the  ground,  they  often   run  out  to  verv  considerable  distames 
when  not  directly  Hushed,  and  c.ideavor  to  gain   the  shelter  of 
briers  and  low  bushes,  or  instinctively  s.puat  among  the   fallen 
lca\es  01  the  woods,  from  which,  with  their  brown  livery    it  i. 
•I'fficult  to  distinguish    them.      No  great   destructi.Mi   is'  made 
among  them  while  on  the  wing,  as  thev  do  not  take  a   gencTil 
alarm  on  being  ai)proached,  but  rise  at  intervals  only  by  two 
or  three  at  a  time. 


Hoh-White  has  been  so  long  and  so  persistentlv  called  bv  this 
ck,K.,ne  that  even  the  exalted  and   pedantic  .XnuTican  Orni.hol- 
fi    1  T?^  ''"  ^"^trained  to  approve  n|   i,,  and  has  di^ni- 

mon    nit  ■■'■  ^■■^"^•■•""'. -»''•"- -'^'  -  the  win.ls  for  one  hHcf 

n  omcnt  the"   •  canon  of  pnonty."  and  adoptin.,-  .Seeboinn-.s  favorite 
anctomm  tlurwwrum.     The  bird  is  also  known  as  -  (^uail  "  in 


I'     **■ 


mn  fif  rmi  numatm^m 


30 


GROUSE   FAMILY, 


New  England,  and  as  "Partridge"  tartlicr  south.  Bob-White  is 
still  a  common  bird  in  southern  New  England,  though  of  some- 
what local  distribution.  It  is  rarely  found  nortli  of  Massachusetts, 
but  a  few  scattered  flocks  are  occasionally  met  with  along  the 
southern  borders  of  the  three  northern  .States. 

in  Canada  it  occurs  only  in  the  southern  peninsula  of  Ontario 
nortii  to  (iravenhurst,  and  though  quite  common  near  London  and 
Hamilton,  is  reported  "rare  "about  Toronto  and  Lucknow. 


,.  i! 


NoTK. — The  Florida  Boii-VViiitk  {Colinus  viri^inianus Jloti- 
danus)  is  a  smaller  race  with  darker  colors  and  broader  black  mark- 
ings.    It  is  found  in  the  northern  and  middle  regions  of  Florida. 

The  Ci'iiAX  Boii-WmT!:  {C.  7iii\s;i)i/(Viiis  ciihaiiensis)  differs 
chiefly  from  the  type  in  the  markings  of  the  plumage.  It  is 
restricted  in  the  United  States  to  the  southwestern  or  tropical 
region  of   Florida. 

The  iMr.ssiNA  Qr.Mi.  {Coturnix  co/iiriiix)  has  been  imported 
from  Europe  by  hundreds  during  the  last  lifteen  years  and  let  loose 
in  various  jjarts  of  the  country  :  but  though  a  few  young  and  old 
birds  appeared  in  the  neigIil)orhood  for  a  year  or  two  following 
their  release,  the  effort  to  naturalize  the  species  is  considered  a 
failure.  In  187.S  a  nunil)er  were  released  near  St.  Stephen,  New 
Brunswick,  and  durinu  tiie  next  three  \ears  I  heard  occasioiiallv 
of  small  bevies  being  seen  near  the  Bay  of  Fundy  sliore  between 
St.  Stephen  and  St.  John,  as  well  as  in  the  Kenneliecasis  valley  as 
far  east  as  Sussex;  but  either  the  climate  or  the  food  was  unsuited 
to  them. 


RUFFEl)    r.ROl'SK. 

PHEASANT.     PARTRIDC.n.     BIRCH    PARTRIDGE. 

l!()N.\s.\  r.Mi'.Ki.i.rs. 

Char.     Upper  parts  mottled  brown  and  gray,  witli  markini;s  of  black 
and  (lull  while  ;  head  witli  crest ;  a  "  ruff"  of  lonii;  black  featiiers  on  sides 
(it  neck;  tail   witli  hroad  suh-tcrniinal  l)aiKl  of  black;   under  part.s  pale 
tawiiv,  throat  unmarked,  breast  and  l)cllv  liarred  with  brown  ;  legs  com 
l)letclv  covered  witi>  feathers.     Length  16  to  iS  inclus. 

A('.t7.     .Amid  a  thicket  or  under  cover  of  a  bush,  —  iisuallv  on  border  ol 
heavy  timber;  a  mere  cushion  of  leaves,  j>rass,  moss,  etc 

/;V;'-.f.     6-20  (usually  10  or  12);  color  varies  from  pale  cream  to  dark 
buff,  often  marked  with  faint  spots  of  brown  ;   1.60  X  1.15. 


RUFFi:i)   GROUSK. 


M 


This  brautifiil  species  of  (irou^e,  known  by  the  name  of 
Pluiisdiit  in  tiie  Middle  and  Western  States,  and  by  that  of 
J'iirfii(/i^i-  in  New  ICngland,  is  found  to  inhabit  the  ronlinent 
from  Hudson  Bay  and  the  parallel  of  56°  to  (leorgia,  but 
are  most  abundant  in  the  Xcjrtiiern  and  Middle  States,  where 
they  often  prefer  the  most  elevated  and  wooded  districts  ; 
and  at  the  South  tliey  affect  the  m(juntainous  ranges  and 
valleys  which  border  \\\)on  or  lie  within  the  chains  (jf  the 
Alleghanies.  They  are  also  prevalent  in  the  Western  Slates 
as  far  as  the  line  of  the  Territory  of  Mississii)pi  ;  and  though 
not  found  on  the  great  Western  plains,  they  reappear  in  the 
forests  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  follow  the  (.'olumbia 
nearly  to  the   i'acific. 

Although,  ])roperly  speaking,  sedentary,  yet  at  the  approach 
of  autumn,  according  to  Audubon,  they  make,  in  common  with 
the  following  species,  partial  migrations  by  single  families  in 
cjuest  of  a  supply  of  food,  and  sometimes  even  cross  the  Ohio 
in  the  <-ourse  of  their  ])ercgrinations.  In  the  northern  parts  of 
New  I'higland  the\-  ap[)ear  also  to  be  i)artially  migratory  at  the 
approacii  of  winter,  and  leave  the  hills  for  lower  and  more 
sheltered  situations.  So  prompt,  indeed,  at  times  are  their 
movements  that  in  November,  iSji,  in  travelling  nearlv  to 
the  extremity  of  New  Hami)shire,  not  a  single  bird  of  the 
species  was  now  to  be  seen,  as  they  had  no  doubt  migrated 
southward  with  the  first  threatening  and  untimely  snow  which 
hail  fallen,  being  indeed  so  unusually  abundant  previously  to 
that  period  as  to  sell  in  the  market  of  IJoston  as  low  as  twelve 
and  a  half,  cents  ajjiece.  Although  elevated  countries  and 
rocky  situations  thickly  overgrown  with  bushes  and  dense  ever- 
greens by  rivers  and  brooks  are  their  chosen  situations,  yet  at 
times  they  frequent  the  lowlands  and  more  open  pine-forests 
in  the  vicinity  of  our  Northern  tt)wns  and  cities,  and  are  even 
occasionally  content  to  seek  a  retreat  far  from  their  favorite 
hills  in  the  depth  of  a  Kentucky  cane-brake  or  the  barrens  of 
New  Jersey.  They  are  somewhat  abundant  in  the  shrubby 
oak-barrens  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  in  whi(  Ii  tht'ir  food 
abounds.     This  consists  commonly  in  the  spring  and   fill  of 


I 


32 


GROUSE   I'AMILV 


1^    k' 


the  buds  of  trees,  tlie  catkins  of  the  hnzel  and  alder,  even 
fern-buds,  acorns,  and  seeds  of  various  kinds,  among  which  I 
have  met  with  the  capsules,  including  the  seeds  of  the  com- 
mon small  Canadian  CMstus  {J/c//tr////ie/////m).  At  times  I 
have  seen  the  crop  almost  entirely  filled  with  the  buds  of  the 
ap])le-tree,  each  connected  with  a  portion  of  the  twig,  the 
wood  of  which  appears  to  remain  a  good  while  undigested  ; 
cin()uefoil  and  strawberry-leaves,  buds  of  the  Azaleas  and  of 
the  broad-leaved  Kalmia,  with  the  favorite  i)artridge-l)erries 
{(iaiilthcria pn)ciiiitl>iii>),  ivy-berries  (C'/ss//s  luJcracea),  and 
gravel  pel)l)les  are  also  some  of  the  many  articles  which  form 
the  winter  fare  of  our  bird.  In  summer  it  seems  often  to 
prefer  berries  of  various  kinds,  particularly  dewberries,  straw- 
berries, grapes,  and  whortleberries. 

In  the  month  of  April  the  Ruffed  (Irouse  begins  to  be  recog- 
nized by  his  peculiar  i/niiiiiiiiiii:;,  heard  soon  after  dawn  and 
towards  the  close  of  evening.  At  length,  as  the  season  of  pair- 
ing approaches,  it  is  heard  louder  and  more  frecpient  till  a  later 
hour  of  the  day,  and  commences  again  towards  the  close  of 
the  afternoon.  This  sonorous,  crepitating  sound,  strongly 
resembling  a  low  peal  of  distant  thunder,  is  produced  by  the 
male,  who  as  a  preliminary  to  the  operation  stands  u]iright  on 
a  prostrate  log,  parading  with  erected  tail  and  ruff  and  with 
droojiing  wings  in  the  manner  of  the  'i'urkey.  After  swelling 
out  his  feathers  and  strutting  forth  for  a  few  moments,  at  a 
sudden  impulse,  like  the  motions  of  a  crowing  Cock,  he  draws 
down  his  elevated  plumes,  and  stretching  himself  forward, 
loudly  beats  his  sides  with  his  wings  with  such  an  accelerating 
motion,  after  the  first  few  strokes,  as  to  cause  the  tremor 
described,  which  may  be  heard  reverberating  in  a  still  morning 
to  the  distance  of  from  a  (piarter  to  that  of  half  a  mile.  This 
curicas  signal  is  re])eated  at  intervals  of  about  six  or  eight 
minutes.  The  same  sound  is  also  heard  in  autumn  as  well  as 
s|)ring,  and  given  by  the  caged  bird  as  well  as  the  free,  being, 
at  times,  merely  an  instinctive  expression  of  hilarity  and  vigor. 
To  this  i)arading  ground,  regularly  resorted  to  by  the  male  for 
the  season,  if  undisturbed,  the  female  flies  with  alacrity;  but. 


KUK1'L:D  (IROUSE. 


33 


[s,  at  a 
draws 
brward, 
orating 
tremor 
iiorning 
This 
eight 
well  as 
,  being, 
I  vigor, 
male  for 
but. 


:)r 


as  with  other  species  of  the  genus,  no  lasting  individual  attach- 
ment is  formed,  and  they  live  in  a  state  of  limited  concubi- 
nage. 'I'he  drumming  parade  of  the  male  is  likewise  often  the 
>ignal  for  a  ([uarrel  ;  and  when  they  hapi)en  to  meet  ea(  h 
other  in  the  vi<inity  of  their  usual  and  stated  walks,  obstinate 
battles,  like  those  of  our  domestic  fowls  for  the  sovereignty  of 
the  dungdiill,  but  too  commonly  succeed.  When  this  stnmd, 
indeed  (according  to  Audubon),  is  imitated  by  striking  care- 
fully upon  an  intlated  bladder  with  a  stick,  the  jealous  male, 
full  of  anger,  rushes  forth  from  his  concealment  and  falls  an 
easy  i)rey  to  the  wily  sportsman. 

Some  time  in  May  a  female  selects  some  thicket  or  the 
side  of  a  fallen  log  in  the  dense  part  of  the  woods  for  the  situ- 
ation of  her  nest.  This  is  formed  merely  of  a  handful  of  with- 
ered leaves  collected  from  the  surrounding  and  similar  surface 
of  the  ground.  The  eggs,  ten  to  fifteen,  more  or  less,  are  of  a 
imiform  dull  yellowish  color.  The  yotmg  run  about  as  soon  as 
hatched,  and  in  about  a  week  or  ten  days  are  able  in  some 
degree  to  make  use  of  their  wings.  The  mcnher  now  leads 
them  out  in  search  of  their  ajjpropriate  and  delicate  food,  and 
broods  them  at  night  beneath  her  wings  like  the  common 
hen ;  she  likewise  defends  them  by  every  stratagem  which 
affection  can  c.ontri\e.  On  the  ap])earance  of  an  enemy  she 
simulates  lameness,  to  impose  on  the  unwelcome  spectator; 
while  the  young  themselves  squat  on  the  ground,  by  which  they 
are  secured,  from  their  similarity  to  its  surface. 

During  summer  these  birds  are  fond  of  basking  and  dusting 
themselves,  and  for  this  jiurpose  are  now  and  then  seen  in  the 
]Mil)lic  roads.  When  flushed,  and  on  the  instant  of  rising  from 
the  ground,  the  bird  usually  utters  a  cackling  note  ([uickly 
repeated  about  half  a  do/en  times,  and  also  before  rising  utters 
a  very  peculiar  lisping  whistle.  Like  the  i'tarmigan,  the  Ruffed 
(Irouse  when  alarmed  in  winter  is  frecpiently  known  to  plunge 
into  the  soft  snow  and  burrow  out  at  such  a  distance  as  fre- 
([uently  to  elude  the  pursuit  of  the  hunter.  Ilesides  other 
successful  methods  of  destruction  which  await  the  devoted 
(Irouse,  snares  and   traps   of  various   kinds   are   employed   to 

vol.   II.  —  3 


J 


<r^ 


34 


GROUSE   FAMILY, 


arrest  them.  They  are  even  smoked  to  death  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  Wild  Pigeons  in  the  Western  country,  while 
sleeping  harmlessly  and  unsusi)ectingly  on  their  leafy  roosts. 
I>y  this  system  of  indiscriminate  extirpation  they  are  now 
greatly  thinned  throughout  the  more  populous  parts  of  the 
Union,  and  sell  in  Philadelphia  and  New  York  from  seventy- 
five  cents  to  a  dollar  apiece.  The  common  price  of  these 
birds  (decidedly,  as  I  think  with  Audubon,  sui)erior  in  flavor 
to  the  Pinnated  (Irouse)  is  in  the  market  of  Boston  from  40 
to  50  cents  the  pair,  showing  how  much  more  abundant  the 
species  is  in  the  rocky  regions  of  New  F^ngland  than  in  any 
other  part  of  America.  Deleterious  effects  have  sometimes 
occurred  from  eating  this  game,  supposed  to  arise  from  their 
feeding  on  the  buds  of  the  broad-leaved  Kalmia ;  yet  most 
persons  eat  them  with  safety  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  even 
when  these  kind  of  buds  have  been  found  almost  filling  the 
stomach. 

The  systematists  have  recently  separated  the  Ruffed  Grouse  dis- 
tributed over  the  Northern  and  Middle  States  from  those  found 
along  the  northern  border  of  New  England  and  in  Canada,  making 
the  latter  a  sub-species  and  giving  to  it  the  name  of  Canadian 
RUFFICD  Grouse  (/?.  timbcllus  tori:;ata). 

The  Canadian  race  is  in  general  darker  colored,  and  lacks  a 
reddish  tinge  on  tlie  back;  also  the  markings  of  the  under  parts 
are  more  conspicuous. 

•'  Birch  Partridges,''  as  they  are  commonly  called  by  the  gunners 
of  northern  Maine  and  the  Maritime  Provinces,  are  still  fairlv 
abundant,  tliougli  the  markets  have  been  generously  supplied  with 
them  every  year. 


i.^ 


;  sanif 
,  while 
roosts, 
e   now 
of  the 
evenly- 
if  these 
II  flavor 
from  40 
ant  the 
1  in  any 
inetimes 
jm  their 
ret  most 
;ar,  even 
lling  the 

rouse  dis- 
)se  found 
\,  making 

ANAUIAN 

i  lacks  a 
iider  parts 

e  gunners 

still  fairly 

iliod  with 


PRAIRIE    HEN. 

PRAIUIK   ChJCKEN.     I'lNNATKI)   GROUSE. 
TVMPANUCHUS    AMKRICANUS. 

Char.     Above,  brownish  ochraceous,  tinged  with   gray;  back   l)arred 

with  black  ;  below,  white,  barred  with  dusky  brown  ;  tliroat  buftish  ;  head 

with  slight  crest;   erectile  tufts  of  7  to  10  long  stiff  feather^  on  sides  of 

m-  neck,  and  below  these,  patches  of  bare  and  elastic  skin.    Length  about  18 

inches. 

A'.-s/.  On  the  open  prairie  amid  tufts  of  long  grass  or  at  the  foot  of  a 
bush ;  a  slight  hollow  scratched  out  and  thinly  lined  with  grass  and 
feathers. 

/•w.f.  8-16  (usually  about  12);  dull  buff  or  greenish  yellow,  some- 
times with  a  reddish  tinge,  and  occasionally  spotted  slightly  with  brown  ; 
1.70  X  1.25. 

Choosing  particular  districts  for  residence,  the  Groz/sc,  or 
Prairie  Hen.  is  consecjuently  by  far  less  common  than  the  pre- 
ceding species.  Confined  to  dry,  barren,  and  bushy  tracts  of 
small  extent,  these  birds  are  in  several  places  now  wholly  or 
nearly  e.xterminated.  Along  the  .Atlantic  coast  they  are  still 
met  with  on  the  Grouse  plains  of  New  Jersey,  on  the  brushy 
plains  of  Long  Island,  in  similar  shrubby  barrens  in  Westford, 
Connecticut,  in  the  island  of  Martha's  Vineyard  on  the  south 
side  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  formerly,  as  probably  in  many 
other  tracts,  according  to  the  information  which  I  have  re- 
ceived from  Lieut. -(iovernor  W'inthrop,  they  were  so  common 
on  the  ancient  bushy  site  of  the  city  of  Hoston  that  laboring 
people  or  servants  stii)ulate(l  with  their  em])loyers  not  to  have 
the  Heath  Hen  brought  to  table  oftener  than  a  few  times  in  the 


I    ' 


3^3 


CKOUSE    FAMILY. 


,IH; 


week.  According  to  Wilson,  they  are  also  still  met  with  among 
the  scnib-oak  and  pine-hills  of  I'ocono,  in  iNorthani|)ton 
county,  Pennsylvania,  'i'hey  are  also  rather  common  through- 
out the  barrens  of  Kentucky  and  on  the  prairies  of  Indiana, 
and  as  far  south  as  Nashville  in  Tennessee,  but  I  believe  no- 
where more  abundant  than  on  the  plains  of  Missouri,  whence 
they  continue  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Dislike  of  moisture, 
as  with  the  Turkey,  but  princii)ally  the  nature  of  their  food, 
apjiears  to  influence  them  in  the  choice  of  their  resort.  The 
small  acorns  of  the  dwarf-oaks,  and  various  kinds  of  '-ild  fruits, 
as  strawberries,  whortleberries,  and  ])artridge-berries,  with  oc- 
casional insects  abounding  in  these  wooded  thickets,  appear 
to  be  the  principal  inducement  to  their  residence  ;  from  which 
they  rarely  wander  at  any  season,  unless  compelled  by  a  failure 
of  their  usual  food,  and  so  become,  notwithstanding  the  almost 
inaccessible  nature  of  the  ground,  a  sure  prey  to  the  greedy 
and  exterminating  hunter.  In  the  Western  States,  where  they 
appear  as  an  abundant  species,  they  are  at  times  observed  to 
traverse  the  ])lains  and  even  cross  extensive  rivers  in  (]uest  of 
the  means  of  subsistence.  In  winter  they  likewise  feed  on 
buds  as  well  as  mast,  sometimes  swallowing  leaves,  and  occa- 
sionally the  buds  of  the  pine.  At  times,  if  convenient,  they 
have  been  known  to  visit  the  buckwheat  field  for  their  fare, 
or  even  devour  the  leaves  of  clover.  In  wintry  storms  they 
seek  shelter  by  perching  in  the  evergreens ;  but  in  spring  and 
summer  they  often  roost  on  the  ground  in  company.  They 
feed  mostly  in  the  morning  and  evening  ;  and  when  they  can 
stir  abroad  without  material  molestation,  they  often  visit  arable 
lands  in  the  vicinity  of  their  retreats.  In  the  inclemency  of 
winter,  like  the  Quail,  they  a])proach  the  barn,  basking  and 
perching  on  the  fences,  occasionally  venturing  to  mix  with  the 
]ioultry  in  their  repast,  and  are  then  often  taken  in  traps. 

The  season  for  pairing  is  early  in  the  spring,  in  March  or 
April.  At  this  time  the  behavior  of  the  male  becomes  remark- 
able. Early  in  the  morning  he  comes  forth  from  his  bushy 
roost  and  struts  about  with  a  curving  neck,  raising  his  ruff,  ex- 
panding his  tail  like  a  fan,  and  seeming  to  mimic  the  ostenta- 


i 


1 

if  1 

il 

*  i 

L 

A    ' 

I'KAIRIE   111:N. 


37 


iiong 

liana, 
e  no- 
hcnce 
isture, 

food, 
The 

fruits, 
ith  oc- 
a\)pear 
\  which 

failure 

ahiiost 

greedy 

•re  they 

rved  to 

(lucst  of 

eed   on 

d  oica- 

nt.  they 
Icir  fare, 
ms  they 

ing  and 
They 

hey  can 

It  arable 

lency  of 

ing  and 

with  the 

|\ps. 

larch  or 
remark- 
is  bushy 
ruff,  ex- 
ostenta- 


ti(jn  of  the  Turkey.  He  now  seeks  out  or  meets  his  rival,  and 
several  jjairs  at  a  time,  as  soon  as  they  become  visible  through 
the  dusky  dawn,  are  seen  preparing  for  combat.  Previously  to 
this  rencontre,  tlie  male,  swelling  out  his  tiiroat,  utters  wiiat  is 
called  a  tootin\;,  —  a  ventrilotjuial,  humming  call  on  liie  female, 
three  times  repeated;  ami  though  uttered  in  so  low  a  key,  it 
may  yi't  be  heard  three  or  four  miles  in  a  still  morning.  About 
the  close  of  March  m  the  i)lains  of  Missouri  we  heard  tliis 
species  of  (Irouse  tooting  or  humming  in  all  directions,  so  that 
at  a  distance  the  sound  might  l)e  taken  almost  for  the  grunting 
of  tlie  bison  or  the  loud  croak  of  the  bull-frog.  While  utter- 
ing his  vehement  call,  the  male  expands  his  neck-|)ouches  to 
such  a  magnitude  as  almost  to  conceal  his  head,  and  blowing, 
utters  a  low  druuuning  bellow  like  the  sound  of  ' k' -toin-hoo, 
' k'-foiii-boo,  once  or  twice  rei)eated,  after  which  is  heard  a  sort 
of  guttural  scjueaking  crow  or  koak,  koak,  koak.  In  the  inter- 
vals of  feeding  we  sometimes  hear  the  male  also  cackling,  or 
as  it  were  crowing  like  '/v  ko  ko  ko,  kooh  kooh,  \\  hile  en- 
gaged in  fighting  with  each  other,  the  males  are  heard  to  utter 
a  rapid,  petulant  cackle,  something  in  sound  like  excessive 
laughter.  The  tooting  is  heard  from  beft)re  daybreak  till. 
eight  or  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  As  they  freipiently  as- 
semble at  these  scratchiii\::;-phxct's,  as  they  are  called,  ambus- 
cades of  bushes  are  formed  round  them,  and  many  are  shot 
from  these  coverts. 

The  female  carefully  conceals  her  nest  in  some  grassy  tus- 
sock on  the  ground,  and  is  but  seldom  discovered.  The  eggs 
are  from  ten  to  twelve,  and  of  a  i)lain  brownish  color.  The 
young  are  protected  and  attended  by  the  female  only,  who 
broods  them  under  her  wings  in  the  manner  of  the  common 
fowl,  and  leads  them  to  places  suitable  for  their  food,  some- 
times venturing  with  her  tent'er  charge  to  glean  along  the 
])ublic  paths.  When  thus  surprised,  the  young  dart  into  the 
neigh l)()ring  bushes,  and  there  skulk  for  safety,  while  the  wily 
parent  beguiles  the  spectator  with  her  art  fill  pretences  of 
Imieness.  The  affectionate  jxirent  and  her  brood  thus  keep 
together  throughout  the  whole  season.     13y  the  aid  of  a  dog 


i 


I"  "fj: 


3« 


(JROUSIi    lAMII.V 


tlu'y  are  easily  htmted  out,  and  are  readily  set,  as  they  are 
not  usually  inclini-d  to  take  wiui,'.  In  tiie  prairies,  however, 
they  not  unfre(iuently  rise  to  tiie  low  boughs  of  trees,  and 
tlun,  staring  about  without  much  alarm,  they  become  an  easy 
pny  to  the  marksman. 

The  ordinary  weight  of    a   full-grown  bird  is  about  th 
pounds,  and  they  now  sell,  when  they  are  to  be  had,  in  N\ 
York  and    IJoston,  from  three  to  five  dollars  the  ])air.     They 
have   been  raised    under    the    common    hen,   but    [jrove     so 
vagrant  as  to  hold  out  no  prospect  of  domestication. 

This  spL'cics  is  common  now  only  in  the  prairie  region  of  Indi- 
ana and  Illinois  and  westward  :  a  low  scattered  (locks  occur  in 
isolated  localities  in  Kentucky  .uui  southwestern  Ontario, 

it  is  sui)i)ose(l  that  the  IMiuiated  (iiouse,  wluch  occurred  in  the 
Atlantic  States  in  Xnttall's  day.  should  be  referred  to  the  Heatii 
Hen.  —  a  distinct  race,  a  renuuuit  of  which  is  still  found  on  .Mar- 
tha's Vineyard. 


HFATH    HKN. 

TVMPANUC'III'S    CUPIDO. 

Cmar.  Similar  to  the  Prairie  FIcn.  1)iit  icdrlish  hiown  above,  and 
l)i'iir:Uli  nistv  wtiitc,  Imrred  witli  dark  reddish  hrnun  ;  neck  tufts  comjxjsed 
of  four  or  five  acutely  lancc-pointcd  feathers. 

.W.tA  In  woodJacul  of  scrul)-oak  or  pine  ;  a  slight  hollow,  thinly  lined 
with  leaves  and  feathers. 

/•;;;■*.     ^'-'*^;  yellowish  preen  and  unspotted  ;  1.70X1.25. 

This  interesting  bird  was  discovered  in  1885  by  Mr.  William 
Hrewster;  or  rather  to  be  more  e.\act,  at  that  date  the  discovery 
was  made  that  the  birds  of  Martha's  X'ineyard  were  distinct  from 
the  Western  Prairie  Hen.  —  distinct  in  coloration  as  well  as  in 
habits,  — the  one  being  a  bird  of  the  open  ])rairie,  the  other  haunt- 
ing groves  of  scriil)-o;ik  or  low  pines,  and  feeding  largely  on  acorns. 

Mr.  Brewster  tells  us  ("Auk,"  January,  18S5)  that  the  bird  is 
conunon  on  .Martha's  X'ineyard.  and  is  so  well  protected  as  not 
likely  to  become  e.xtinct. 


SlIARI'-lAILKl)   (iKOrSK. 

FKAIRIE    ClllCKKN. 

l*i:r)i()c.Kii;s  I'liAsi.wii.i.rs. 

Char.  Above,  l)liick  and  Ijrowii  irregular  stripes;  wings  and  wing- 
coverts  spotted  witli  wliite  ;  head  witli  siiglit  crest,  a  nai<ed  patch  ol' 
orange  color  over  the  eyes  ;  two  niiildle  laii-featliers  longer  than  the  others  ; 
lower  parts  white,  with  dark  \'-shaped  markings;  legs  and  I'eet  feathered. 
Length  aljout  17  inches. 

,\'ij'/.  In  open  woodhmd  or  on  border  of  grove,  or  in  thicket  along  a 
stream,  hiilden  under  brush  or  at  foot  of  a  low  hush  ;  a  slight  depression 
in  the  ground  scantily  lined  with  grass  and  feathers. 

^;,;''.f.  0-14  (usually  about  u)  ;  fddish  brown  or  yellowish  brown, 
marked  with  fine  spots  of  a  darker  slmle  of  brown  ;   1.70  X  1-25. 

This  curious  species  of  (InmsL  1  .ilso  principally  ;in  inhabi- 
tant of  the  coldest  habitable  parts  of  the  .American  continent, 
being  found  around  Hudson  liay  in  the  larch  thickets  tiirough- 
out  the  whole  year.  It  is  not  unconimon  in  the  forests  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  Mr.  Say  saw  it  in  the  spring  likewise  in 
Missouri  but  little  beyond  the  settlements,  at  which  season  it 
also  visits  the  vicinity  of  Fort  William,  on  Lake  Superior.  We 
met  with  it  on  Larimie's  Fork  of  the  Platte  in  June,  where  it 
was  breeding.  As  an  article  of  food  it  proved  plump  and  well 
flavored,  superior  almost  to  any  other  of  the  large  species  in 
the  United  States.  These  birds  are,  as  usual,  shy  and  solitary, 
living  only  in  pairs  throughout  the  summer,  when  they  subsist 
much  upon  berries.  In  autumn  and  winter  they  arc  seen  mov- 
ing in  families,  and  frequent  the  thickets  of  juniper  and  larch, 
on  whose  buds,  as  well  as  those  of  the  birch,  alder,  and  poplar, 
they  now  principally  live.     They  usually  keep  on  the  ground, 


I     I 


40 


GROUSE   1  AMILV. 


hill  if  disturbed,  take  to  trees.  Wlun  hard  pressed  by  the 
hunter,  they  sometimes  seek  safety  by  pkuiging  into  the  snow, 
and  (juickly  burrowing  beneath  it,  come  out  at  a  distance,  and 
ot'ten  from  a  situation  the  least  expected,  so  that  they  frc- 
<iuently  make  good  thrir  retreat  from  their  enemies. 

'I'he  Sharp-tailed  (irouse  makes  its  nest  on  the  ground,  near 
some  bush,  with  loose  grass  and  a  few  feathers ;  the  eggs  are 
from  9  to  13,  white,  with  dusky  spots.  The  young  are  hatched 
about  the  middle  of  June,  and  utter  a  puling  note  something 
like  chickens  Unsuccessful  attempts  have  been  made  to 
domesticate  them.  'J"he  male  has  a  shrill,  rather  feeble,  crow- 
ing note  ;  and  both  sexes,  when  disturbed,  and  on  taking  wing, 
rei)eat  a  reiterated  cry  of  kiik,  kiih,  kiik,  accompanied  by  a 
smart  flirting  of  the  tail-feathers,  nearly  similar  to  the  opening 
and  closing  of  a  fan.  In  the  breeding-season  the  male  struts 
about  proudly,  in  the  usual  manner  of  the  genus  and  order 
to  which  he  belongs.  The  weight  of  this  bird  is  about  two 
pounds,  and  the  flesh  is  light  brown  when  cooked,  and  is  much 
esteemed. 

The  northern  limit  of  the  range  of  this  species,  according  to 
Richardson,  is  Oreat  Slave  Lake,  in  61  degrees;  and  its  most 
southern  recorded  station  is  in  41  degrees,  on  the  Missouri. 
It  abounds  (jn  the  outskirts  of  the  Saskatchewan  plains,  and  is 
found  throughout  the  woody  districts  of  the  fur  countries,  in 
oj^en  glades  an'l  thickets  on  the  borders  of  lakes,  particularly 
in  the  partially  cleared  tracts  contiguous  to  the  trading  posts. 
In  winter,  like  the  Pinnated  (Jrouse,  it  perches  generally  on 
trees,  but  in  sumnier  it  is  much  on  the  ground,  and  is  at  all 
times  associated  in  coveys  of  ten  to  sixteen  individuals.  Early 
in  s])ring  a  family  of  these  birds  selects  a  level  s]iGt,  whereon 
they  meet  every  morning,  and  run  rotmd  in  a  circle  of  fifteen 
or  twenty  feet  diameter,  on  which  the  grass  becomes  worn 
quite  bare.  On  appioacliing  this  ring,  the  birds  squat  close  to 
the  ground,  but  in  a  sh(Mt  time  stretch  out  their  ni'ck-;  to 
survey  the  intruder,  and  if  not  sc:ii\'<l  by  ;inv  nearer  advance, 
they  soon  resume  their  circular  course,  some  running  to  the 
right,  and  others  to  the  left,  thus  meeting  and  crossing  each 


i  K 


CANADA   GROUSE. 


41 


otli.r.  1-hese  "  Partridge  dances  "  last  for  a  month  or  more 
until  concluded  by  the  more  serious  employ  of  incubation. 
In  mutation  of  this  curious  amusement  of  the  Shari)-tailed 
(.rouse,  the  In.lians  of  the  upper  Missouri  have  what  thev  call 
a  Partridge- Dance,  in  uhich  the  old  men  chielly  join.       " 

The  true  Sharp-tail  is  not  found  south  of  the  Canadian  border 
It  occurs  ,n  the  wooded  districts  along  the  north  sl.ore  of  Lake 
Supcnor,  and  thence  north  to  the  timber  limit,  and  west  to  British 
Columbia  and  Alaska. 


XoTK.  —  The  "Pkaikir  Ciiickkx 


IS  a  palur  race,  called  by 


the  systcmatists  the  Pkaikik  Shak.-t.m..ki>  Gkousi-:  (/'.  M,,/^. 
ur//us  ca»rf>cstns).  It  differs  from  the  type  in  displaying  more  of 
he  gray  shades,  with  tints  of  buff  and  drab,  and  less  of  the  red 
t.nge  in  the  upper  parts.  Also  the  dark  tints  are  much  paler  in 
ca,upcstns,  so  that  the  white  spots  on  the  wings  do  not     tand  in 

districts  ot  I  hnois  and  Wisconsin,  and  is  reported  by  .Mr.  Thomn- 
.son  as  abundant  in  Manitoba.  '  -^ '"^""P 


gi-a} 


CANADA    GROUSI::. 

SPOTTED   GROU.SE.     SI'RUCK   PARTRIDGE. 
DeNDRACJAI'US    CA\AiJi:.\SlS. 

Chak.     Male:    prevailing  color  black,  varied  al.„vc  inL..ularlv  with 
,/avand  tauny;  ])cl,nv,  spotted  with  white;  a  co.nl.  of  reddN    o.l     e 
JKikcd  sk,„  over  the  eyes;  tail  with  tenninal  hand  ot  orange      ,wn^ 
U.thced  to  the  toes     Female  :  prevailing  color  brown,  v:^ied  w       blS 
and  gray.     Ixngth  about  16  inches.  '  "'ui  uiacK 

.Wft.     In  deep  forest,  hidden  by  ::  low  hanging  I,ranch ;  a  mere  de- 

E™.  ;;l,^:,  r^;  =:''-'—•«"»-"'' ^^-f »«- 

..f^'ff'     'V'4  J'''^"^^']>'  ^''^""^   10);  8i""iul  co.or  varies  from  d.dl  white 
o   buff  and  reddish   brown,  marked  irregularly  with  several  slu  d        . 
reddish  and  orange  brown  and  innber  ;   1.70  y  ,.,0. 

This  dark  species  of  (Jrouse  inhabits  the  col.l  regions  of 
Hudson  B:ty  up  to  the  67th  parallel,  throughout  th.e  whole 
year,  where  it  frequents  the  bushy  plains,  'lb  the  south  of 
tais    country    it   appears   to    seek    out    the    alpine   eleyations 


42 


GROUSE   FAMILY. 


being  met  within  the  White  Motintains  of  New  Hampshire  anil 
throughout  a  great  portion  of  the  Northern  Andes,  towards 
the  sources  of  the  Missouri  and  Oregon.  In  winter  it  visits 
Canada,  the  interior  of  Maine,  Michigan,  sometimes  the  State 
of  New  York ;  and  it  even  breeds  round  Halifax  in  Nova 
Scotia,  as  well  as  in  the  State  of  Maine.  In  Canada  it  is 
known  by  the  name  of  the  Wood  Partridge  ;  by  others  it 
is  called  the  Cedar,  or  Spruce,  Partridge.  Sometimes  the  birds 
are  sent  in  a  frozen  state  from  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Bruns- 
wick to  Boston. 

The  favorite  resort  of  this  species  is  in  pine  and  spruce 
woods  and  cedar  swamps,  which  they  frequent  in  the  winter 
for  the  purpose  of  feeding  on  the  buds,  oily  seeds,  and  ever- 
green foliage,  to  which  they  also  add  juniper-berries.  Their 
flesh,  though  palatable  at  all  times,  is  considered  best  in  sum- 
mer, when  they  feed  much  on  berries,  as  the  buds  of  the  res- 
inous evergreens  communicate  an  unpleasant  flavor  to  the 
game.  As  usual,  they  nest  on  the  ground  with  little  art,  in  the 
slight  shelter  of  fallen  leaves  and  bushes,  and  are  said  by 
Audubon  to  lay  8  to  14  eggs  of  a  deep  fawn  color,  irregularly 
splashed  with  different  tints  of  brown.  They  are  readily  ap- 
proached, and  sometimes  are  said  to  be  so  unsuspicious  as, 
like  the  Ptarmigan,  to  allow  of  being  knocked  down  with  a 
stick  ;  and  round  Hudson  Bay  are  commonly  caught  by  the 
aborigines  in  a  simple  noose  fastened  to  a  stake.  W^hen  much 
disturbed,  however,  they  betake  themselves  to  trees,  where 
they  are  readily  approached  and   shot  down. 

In  the  month  of  May,  where  they  breed,  in  the  State  of 
Maine,  the  male  struts  before  his  mate,  and  beating  his  wings 
briskly  against  his  body,  produces  a  drumming  noise,  clearer 
than  that  of  the  Ruffed  Crouse,  which  can  be  heard  to  a  con- 
siilerable  distance.  The  males  leave  their  mates  as  soon  as 
incubation  has  commenced,  and  do  not  join  them  again  until 
late  in  autumn. 

The  "  Spruce  Partridge,"  as  the  bird  is  called  Dy  the  gunners 
"  down  East.'  is  a  fairly  common  resident  of  the  timber  districts 
in  northern  New  England  and  the  Provinces;  it  occurs  also  in  the 


VVILLUW   I'TARMIGAX. 


43 


forest  rc'jLjions  of  Quebec,  Ontario,  and  Michigan,  and  Turner  found 
it  abundant  in  Xortbcrn  Labrador. 

The  retiring  disposition  of  the  bird  has  caused  its  habits  to  be 
little  known,  and  the  nest  is  generally  so  well  concealed  that  few 
collectors  have  succeeded  in  procuring  specimens  of  the  eggs. 
Several  pairs  of  these  birds  have  been  successfully  domesticated 
by  Mr.  Watson  Bishop,  of  Kenlville,  Nova  Scotia,  and  an  article 
from  his  pen,  publislied  in  the  "  Ornithologist  and  Oologist  "  for 
January,  1889,  contains  much  that  is  new  concerning  their  habits. 
The  birds  were  easily  tamed,  and  soon  became  so  fearless  as  to 
hop  on  Mr.    Bishop's  knee  and  take  food  from  his  hand. 

When  strutting  before  the  hen,  the  male  poses  and  puffs  after 
the  manner  of  a  Cobbler.  The  feathers  on  his  breast  and  collar 
are  raised  on  end  ;  the  combs  over  the  eyes,  which  can  be  enlarged 
at  will,  almost  meet  above  the  crown ;  and  the  erect  and  expanded 
tail  is  kept  swaying  from  side  to  side  with  a  silk  like  rustling.  The 
females  during  the  nesting  season  are  very  quarrelsome,  so  that 
only  a  few  can  be  kept  in  one  pen ;  but  this  unfriendliness  disap- 
pears after  the  broods  scatter. 

The  lien  will  occasionally  cover  the  first  egg  with  grass,  but  not 
often,  tliough  after  several  eggs  have  been  deposited,  she  usually 
tlings  behind  her,  with  her  claws,  any  leaves,  grass,  or  similar  ma- 
terial that  may  chance  to  lie  near  the  nest.  But  she  hl-vlt  turns  to 
arrange  this  covering;  though  when  on  the  nest  she  will  sometimes 
pick  up  witii  her  bill  any  straws  that  may  be  within  reach,  and 
tiiesc  she   tucks  under   her. 

The  first  egg  01  a  Mutch  has  the  least  amount  of  marking,  and 
the  number  of  spots  increases  with  each  successive  egg.  The%ots 
are  entirely  on  the  surface,  and  are  easily  rubbed  off.""* 


WILLOW    PTARMKIAN. 

WHITE   GROUSE. 

.Laooits    lacopus. 

Char.  Hill  black  ;  legs  and  feet  tliicklv  feathered  to  the  cl.nws.  Win- 
ter plumage  pure  white  ;  tail-feather.-;  black,  tipped  with  wjiite,  Male  in 
summer:  head  and  neck  chestiuU;  bodv  oiange  hinwn,  iiKne  tawnv  on 
back  and  runii),  barred  with  black;  wings  mostlv  white.  Female  :  simi- 
lar, but  more  heavily  hai  red  with  black.     Length  about  16  inches. 

A't'sf.  A  meic  deinession,  with  a  slight  lining  of  leaves  and  grass,— 
sometimes  a  few  feathers. 

.ffi.X'-f-  8-16  (usually  about  10);  buff  or  reddish  brown,  marked  with 
darker  brown  ;  r.So  X  125. 


I'" 


T"^- 


44 


(IROLSE   FA.MIIA. 


II '! 


White   Grouse,  or  PMr/ii/.:;(tii. 

The  Ptarmigan  is  one  among  the  very  few  animated  beings 
which,  by  choice  and  instinct,  constantly  reside  in  the  coldest 
Arctic  deserts,  and  in  the  lofty  mountains  of  central  Europe, 
where,  as  the  snow  begins  to  melt  away,  it  seeks  out  its  frozen 
bed  by  ascending  to  the  limits  of  eternal  ice.  Like  so  many 
other  animals  of  this  inclement  boreal  region,  this  bird  is  com- 
mon to  both  the  old  and  new  continent.  It  is  met  with  in 
Siberia,  Kamtschatka,  (Ireenland,  most  parts  of  northern  Vax- 
rope,  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  and  even  as  far  s:nith  as  the 
romantic  scenes  of  the  lakes  of  Cumberland,  a  few  being  still 
seen  in  the  lofty  hills  which  surround  the  vale  of  Keswick,  as 
well  as  in  Wales.  This  species  has  scarcely  been  met  with 
on  the  American  continent,  except  on  ^lelville  Island  and 
Churchill   River. 

The  Ptarmigan  feeds  on  many  sorts  of  berries,  particularly 
the  crow-berry  (^Enipctriim  nigrufii)  and  cow-berry  {Vaici- 
niiim  vitis  ithcd),  as  well  as  the  tops  of  the  same  plant  ;  it  also 
collects  catkins,  buds,  and  the  young  shoots  of  the  pine, 
heath,  rosehips,  and  sometimes  the  different  kinds  of  lichens, 
which  it  searches  out  in  the  extensive  Inirrows  it  makes 
beneath  the  snow,  'i'o  all  this  bill  of  frugal  fare,  it  also 
sometimes  adds  a  few  insects.  These  birds  search  out  their 
food  chielly  in  the  morning  and  evening,  and  in  the  middle  of 
the  day  are  observed  sometimes  to  bask  in  the  sun.  Like  the 
I'^sciuimaux  of  the  human  family,  whose  lot  is  cast  in  the  same 
cokl  and  dreary  region,  they  seek  protection  from  tl'.e  extreme 
severity  of  the  climate  by  ilwelling  in  the  snow  ;  it  is  here  that 
they  commonly  roost  and  work  out  subterraneous  paths.  In 
ihe  morning,  as  soon  as  they  leave  their  fro/en  dens,  they  fly 
out  vigorously  into  the  air  in  an  upwanl  direction,  shaking  the 
snow  from  their  warm  and  white  clothing.  While  thus  feeding 
they  socially  call  on  one  another  at  intervals  in  a  loml  tone, 
and  sometimes  utter  a  sort  of  cackling  cry,  almost  like  a  coarse 
and  mocking  laugh. 

The  nest,  about  the  middle  of  June,  is  made  in  open  places 


I- 


WILLOW    I'J'VKMIGAX. 


45 


uliere   moss  abounds,  or  in  the  shelter  of  tl, .   i 

i-hes,  foxing  ,he  „„,,  .o,,,,,  ji";:;;;:  't^^Z'z 

sten  e   res  ons      'Vht^   ntr...        /  naked   .uid 

fro      the    .r  •  of  H  "         '"'""  ?"'  '"'^  ^^°^^"'  -^''  -'--■,! 
irom  ti  e  care  of  the.r  parents,  they  and  the  ol<l  are  seen  to 

assemble  m  flocks  of  two  or  three  hundred   .bout    he  h     • 
n.ng  of  October,  when  they  appear  to  m 'n  ,    L  to';,"" 

south  in  quest  of  food,  or  rather  from  tl  ^^''^ 

the  nhins      At  tl.i     . '  "'/^'^'^"'^  ^'^'^'^  the  mountams  towards 

tc  chicko,,.,   more   particlarly   when   the  weather  is   mll.l  • 
iK,-areah,ro,l  even  by  cn„nl.  of  bread,  a„.l  o      h  o„   !^ 
h  .   owanis  then,,  or  any  strange  objeet,  tl,ey  are  so  attr      e, 
by  the  appearance  as  to  allow  of  an  approad,  so  near  tin 
noose  , nay  be  thrown  round  their  necks  or,  appro Xd  In 
behmd,  they  ,nay  be  knocked  down  with  pol    .     .Some, i  ™ 
however,  they  become  wild  enough  to  fly,  bnt  soon  gn,w  w"    ^ 
an,l  as  ,a,ne  as  „s„al.     U  hen  abont  to  flv  off  to  a  ,IislaS 

m,t,atn,g  the  ,ry  of  their  enemy  the  Hawk.  At  times  trnstin„ 
to  the  concealment  of  their  winter  liverv,  the  i  r™  f 
motionless  ,,p„„  the  snow,  from  which  theyare  st  11  di  til  r 
able  by  their  more  dazzling  whiteness 

They  are  much  esteemed  as  foo.l  in  e,erv  country  where 
they  occur  and  are  commonly  taken  in  nets,  which  arc  mere  v 
ma<le  to  fa  1  over  the  place  where  they  assemble,  or  t,™  '  h 
ty  are  driven;  and  so  numerous  are  they  at  Hudson 
that  fif  y  or  seventy  are  sometimes  obtained  a.  a  single  haul  of 
a  net  about  twenty  feet  square,  r.etween  X<,vember  and  ,  ri 
as  many  as  ten  thousan.l  are  taken  for  the  use  of  the  set 


il 


46 


GROUSE  FAxMILY. 


nit-'iit ;  and  in  Europe,  during  the  winter,  they  are  carried  in 
thousands  to  the  market  of  Jkrgen  in  Norway,  and  when  half- 
roasted  or  jerked,  are  put  into  barrels  and  transported  to  other 
countries  as  an  article  of  commerce. 

lVi//()U)    Grouse,  or  Large  Ptarmigan. 

This  larger  species,  called  the  Willow  (irouse  by  Hearne,  the 
Wood  Grouse  of  the  Norwegians,  is  another  inhabitant  of  both 
continents,  extending  its  residence  to  the  eternal  limits  of  the 
polar  ice.  In  America  they  abound  around  Hudson  Bay, 
where  they  are  said  to  breed  along  the  coast,  making  their 
nests  on  dry  ridges  on  the  ground.  In  the  ancient  continent 
they  shelter  their  nests  in  the  high  tufts  of  the  heath,  and  in 
the  dwarf  willows.  Their  eggs,  lo  to  12,  are  longer  than 
tiiose  of  the  preceding  species,  of  a  muddy  white,  or  inclining 
to  pale  rufous,  covered  and  marbled  with  great  numbers  of 
spots,  of  the  color  of  clotted  blood.  They  even  breed  in  Lab- 
rador about  the  beginning  of  June.  According  to  r\udubon, 
they  are  sometimes  seen  in  the  State  of  Maine  and  around 
Lake  Michigan.  'I'his  species  also  appears  to  be  monogamous, 
as  both  sexes  remain  together  and  show  an  equal  anxiety  for 
the  safety  of  their  brood. 

It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  this  species,  still  more  boreal 
than  the  Common  Ptarmigan  in  Europe  and  Asia,  should  con- 
stantly inhabit  to  the  south  of  that  species  in  North  America, 
where  it  seems,  as  it  were,  to  have  usurped  its  residence.  The 
general  habits  of  these  birds  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the 
preceding.  I>ike  them,  they  become  gregarious  at  the  setting 
in  of  winter,  roaming  after  their  food  in  flocks  of  as  many  as 
two  hundred,  living  then  and  at  most  seasons  on  the  tops, 
buds,  and  even  seeds  of  the  dwarf-willow,  and  hence  called 
Willow  Partridges.  They  also  subsist  on  most  kinds  of  north- 
ern berries,  and  many  other  kinds  of  buds  and  leaves,  with  the 
tops  of  the  heath  and  the  seeds  of  the  birch.  As  food,  this 
species  is  preferred  to  the  smaller  Ptarmigan. 

Nuttall  followed  Audubon  in  thus  separating  this  species  and 
recognizing  as  a  distinct  form  the  White  Ptarmigan,  —  the  ameri- 


M  ' 


I 


I 


ROCK   PTARMIGAN. 


47 


canus  of  Audubon,  -  but  liaircl  doubted  its  validity,  and  it  Ikis 
been  entirely  omitted  from  recent  works.  I  liave  given  above  the 
two  biograpi.ies  as  they  appeared  in  Nuttall's  booi<,  for  to-other 
they  tell  about  all  that  is  known  of  the  present  species. 

The  Willow  Ptarmigan  ranges  through  boreal  America  from 
Labrador  to  Alaska,  and  in  winter  is  quite  abundant  on  the  north 
shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  During  some  seasons  a  number 
have  wandered  sufficiently  near  to  Quebec  and  Montreal  to  get  into 
the  markets. 

There  are  only  two  instances  recorded  of  the  occurrence  of  this 
bird  south  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  —  one  secured  by  Mr.  C.  B.  Cory 
on  the  Magdelen  Islands,  and  the  second  shot  by  Dr.  C.  Hart 
Merriam  in  Lewis  County,  northern  New  York. 


Note.  — A  variety  of  this  species  — Ali  !iN's  Ptakmigan 
(Z.  lagopus  alleni)  was  described  by  Dr.  Stejneger  in  1884.  It 
differs  from  true  hv^opus  in  having  the  wing-feathers  mottled  with 
black,  and  black  shafts.     This  race  is  restricted  to  Newfoundland 


I 


% 


Jor 


ROCK   PTARMKIAN. 

J.AGf)PUS    RUI'KSTRLS. 

Char.     Similar  to  the  Willow  I'tarmigan,  but  smaller  (length  about 

14  mches),  and  m  summer  displays  more  black  and  less  of  the  rufous 
tint     Also  distmguished  by  a  line  of  black  running  through  the  eyes 

Nest.     A  mere  depression,  with  a  slight  covering  of  grass  and  moss. 
Eg^^rs     S-16  (usually  lo) ;  buflf  or  pale  reddish  brown,  marked  with 
darker  brown;  1.70  X  r.20. 

This  species  is  nearly  allied  to  the  Common  Ptarmigan,  but 

15  smaller,  has  more  of  the  brownish  yellow  in  its  summer 
dress,  broader  bars  of  black,  and  none  of  the  cinereous  tint 
which  prevails  in  the  livery  of  the  Ptarmigan.  In  winter  it 
IS  only  distinguishable  by  its  size.  This  species  is,  according 
to  Hutchins,  numerous  at  the  two  extremities  of  Hudson  ]}ay, 
but  does  not  appear  at  the  middle  settlements  (York  and 
Severn  factories)  except  in  very  severe  seasons,  when  the 
Willow  Grouse  are  scarce.  It  abounds  in  Melville  Island  in 
the  dreary  latitude  of  74  and  75  degrees  in  the  short  summers 


k 


48 


CiROUSE   FAMILY. 


of  that  frigid  and  chcerlL'ss  region.  It  is  also  found  on  Mel- 
ville IVninsula  and  the  Barren  Grounds,  and  indeed  seldom 
proceeds  farther  south  in  winter  than  the  63d  parallel  in  the 
interior,  but  descends  along  the  coasts  of  Hudson  Hay  to  lati- 
tude 5.S  ilegrees,  and  in  severe  seasons  still  farther  to  the 
south.  It  is  met  with  in  the  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  as 
far  to  the  south  as  the  latitude  of  55  degrees.  In  its  habits 
and  moile  of  living  it  resembles  the  Willow  (irouse,  but  does 
not  retire  so  far  into  the  woody  country  in  winter.  It  fre- 
quents the  ojjcn  woods  on  the  borders  of  lakes  at  the  same 
season,  particularly  in  the  65th  parallel,  though  the  bulk  of  the 
species  remains  on  the  skirts  of  the  Barren  Grounds.  It 
hatches  in  June. 

Tlie  usual  habitat  of  this  species  is  the  barren  ground  region  of 
the  ^\retics,  though  one  example  was  shot  on  Anticosti  by  .Mr. 
William  Brewster. 

NoTi:. —  In  Kkinhardt's  Ptakmigan  (/,.  rupcstris  reinltardti) 
the  male  in  summer  plumage  is  more  mottled,  al)ove,  than  true 
nipcslris,  aiul  tlie  female  is  black,  aI)ove,  varied  with  grayish  buff. 

This  race  is  found  in  (jreenland  and  on  the  western  shore  of 
Cumberland  Bay  and  the  northern  extremity  of  Labrador. 


WELCH'S   PTARMIGAN. 

LacOI'US    WKI.CHl. 

Chak.  In  winter  similar  to  rti/^cstris.  Male  in  summer:  above,  dark 
brownish  giav  blended  with  whitish  gray  and  reddi>h  gray  ;  head  and 
neck  lighter ;  wings  white  ;  breast  and  sides  like  back  ;  throat,  belly,  and 
legs  white;  tail  duskv  grav;  bill  and  claws  black.  Female:  similar,  but 
of  lighter  color,  and  tlie  back  and  breast  tinged  with  yellow.  Length 
about  15  inches. 

Xc'st  and  ExX-'''-     Unknown,  but  probably  similar  to  rupcstris. 

This  species,  which  is  closely  related  to  the  Rock  Ptarmigan,  is 
restricted  to  Newfoundland,  where  it  ranges  over  the  rocky  hills 
and  barrens  of  the  interior.  It  was  first  described  l)y  Brewster,  in 
1S85,  from  .specimens  taken  by  George  O.  Welch,  of  Lynn. 


SANDKRI.IXC;. 

RUDDV    I'l.OVF.K.     I5KACII-BIRD. 

("ami IRIS  arf:\aria. 

t'HAR.  Xo  hind  toe;  bill  soincwliat  similar  to  n  Plovrr.  In  ^nmmer : 
above,  mottled  rnfons  and  blacki>h  Ijrown,  most  of  the  feathers  ti]')]Kd 
with  grayish  white;  head  and  neck  pale  chestnut  spnttcrl  with  brown; 
wing-coverts  tip]icd  with  white;  outer  tail-feathers  white:  lower  ]iarts 
white.  In  winter  the  rufous  tints  are  replaced  by  jiearl  gray,  and  the 
spring  ]>luniage  displays  a  mixture  of  the  two.  In  yonnt;  birds  the  head, 
neck,  and  back  arc  tinged  with  buff.     Length  about  S  inches. 

A't'sL  Under  a  bush  ar  amid  a  tuft  of  weeds;  a  depression  lined  with 
dry  grass. 

F.^^,i;s.  2-4;  greenish  buff  or  browni.sh  olive,  spotted  chiellv  around  the 
larger  end  with  brown  ;  1.40  X  0.95. 

Tlie  Sanderlings,  in  accumulating  flocks,  arrive  on  the  shores 
of  Massachusetts  from  their  remote  northern  breeding-jilaces 
towards  the  close  of  August.  They  are  seen  also  about  the 
same  time  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  and  still  farther  to  the 
South,  where  they  remain  tliroughout  the  greater  i)art  of 
the  winter,  gleaning  their  subsistence  exclusively  along  the 
immediate  borders  of  the  ocean,  and  are  partictilarly  attached 
to  sandy  flats  and  low,  sterile,  solitary  coasts  divested  of  vege- 

VOL.    I.  —  4 


50 


WADING  BIRDS. 


tation  and  j)C'rpc'tually  bleached  by  the  arrcss  of  tides  and 
storms  ;  in  such  situations  they  are  often  seen  in  numerous 
flocks  runninjf  along  the  strand,  busily  employed  in  front  (,f 
the  moving  waves,  gleaning  with  agility  the  shrimps,  minute 
shell-fish,  marine  insects,  and  small  moluscous  animals  which 
ever-recurring  accident  throws  in  their  way.  The  numerous 
flocks  keep  a  low  circling  course  along  the  strand,  at  times 
uttering  a  slender  and  rather  plaintive  whistle  nearly  like  that 
of  the  smaller  Sandpipers.  (Jn  alighting,  the  little  active  troop, 
waiting  the  opportunity,  scatter  themselves  about  in  the  rear  of 
the  retiring  surge.  The  succeeding  wave  then  again  urges  the 
busy  gleaners  before  it,  when  they  appear  like  a  little  pigmy 
army  passing  through  their  military  evolutions ;  and  at  this 
time  the  wily  sportsman,  seizing  his  oj^iportunity,  spreads 
destruction  among  their  timid  ranks;  and  so  little  are  they 
aware  of  the  nature  of  the  attack  that  after  making  a  few  aerial 
meanders  the  survivors  pursue  their  busy  avocations  with  as 
little  apparent  concern  as  at  the  first.  The  breeding-place 
of  the  Sanderlings,  in  common  with  many  other  wading  and 
aquatic  birds,  is  in  the  remote  and  desolate  regions  of  the 
North,  since  they  appear  to  be  obliged  to  quit  those  countries 
in  America  a  little  after  the  middle  of  August.  .According  to 
Mr.  Hutchins,  they  breed  on  the  coast  of  Hudson  P>ay  as  low 
as  the  55th  i)arallel ;  and  he  remarks  that  they  construct,  in  the 
marshes,  a  rude  nest  of  grass,  laying  four  dusky  eggs,  spotted 
with  black,  on  which  thev  begin  to  sit  about  the  middle  of 
June. 

IHemming  supposes  that  those  seen  in  (Ireat  Britain  breed 
no  farther  off  than  in  the  bleak  Highlands  of  Scotland,  and 
Mr.  Simmonds  observed  them  at  the  Mull  of  Cantyre  as  late  as 
the  second  of  June.  They  are  found  in  the  course  of  the 
season  throughout  the  whole  Arctic  circle,  extending  their 
migrations  also  into  moderate  climates  in  the  winter.  They 
do  not,  however,  in  F''urope  proceed  as  far  south  as  the  capital 
of  Italy,  as  we  learn  from  the  careful  and  assiduous  observa- 
tions of  the  Prince  of  Musignano.  .According  to  Latham  the 
Sanderling  is  known  to  be  an  inhabitant  even  of  the  remote 


SAXDEKMXG. 


coast  of  Australia,  and 

in  Siberia.     In  the  muiuii  of  .\| 


51 


i-^  loun,!  on  the  shores  of  I.akc  IJa.kal 


recovered  from   the   nuMilt  of 


nortii,  but  are  seldom 


in 


'}■,  or  as  soon  as  tiie\-  h, 
^i"i'%    tiiey    leave   us    fo 


when,  with  their  brooils,  th 


good  order  for  the  table  until 


ive 


r  tht 


fat 


',  tney  arrive    remarkably   p|, 


autumn. 


^U,  and  are  then  justly  e  teemed        .    i  7    l""""''  ^"^'' 

Arctic  ,csia,„,  .,„,  „,„,;  ,°  ^''^  ^  '','""'"'  "  H'^f"  "'  "'«" 
Onli  and  ,.„,„go„ia  :  a„,l  i„  .l.ci;^r„-r;;,.;;;;'^;  «""'«, '" 
walcHvays  of  ,1,.  in.c.rior  as  well  as  iIk-  a!"^.Z:  '  "'" 

animal  life.  '     '  ^'''  '-'^'■"■'"^'   ""'■t''^ni   limit   of 

Flemmino's  opiiiion  that  somo  of  fU...„  i  •    i 
'-S  not  been  confirmed  V"Z^ ^^    J^^     r^^"'  ''^  ^->^''-cl 
Islands  the  Sandcrlin-^  or.  ■„•.  n       ^"•^'-■^^■'■v     Kvcn  on  the  Faroe 
been  taken  in  Ic^!^  ""'''"  "^  '"^  '"'^'"^"^^  ->'>=  '-'t  nests  have 

fi-i  into.  t..^-em„;n:;;,  "L^^^ -^x;tr  ^^"^■"  ^'  'r  - 

a.vom,d.,,,i.a.i,Unve  into  the  ;;..^;^ 

also  the  buds  of  plants.    '"■^'^^"^"'°"^'  ^"^^  '^as  been  known  to  e.U 


I  :'■ 


5a 


\VAI)IN(;    niKDS. 


\\l 


ijlac;k-m:(Ki;i)  srii;i'. 

HlMANlOI'IS   .\ii:xi(  \\t  s. 

(llAU.  I.c.ns  liii.nht  i)ink  and  cxrccclinglv  liinj^;  I)ill  black,  blender, 
ami  !(iii_u;Lr  than  lliu  licatl;  crown,  hack  of  nci  k.  l)ack,  anil  wings  \)\.uk  ; 
forclKail,  patcli  oscr  tlic  lycs,  tliioal,  and  under  i)arts  wliilc  Length 
aliont  1 5  iiuliis 

A'l^'f.  <  >n  marshy  ni.irgin  of  stream  or  pond;  a  sliglii  depression  in 
the  turf,  Mned  with  dry  grass.  Sometimes  —  if  the  gruunil  is  very  wet  —  a 
high  i)latfi)rm  is  built,  of  weed-stems  and  twigs. 

/'W,i\  3-.J ;  pale  olivi' or  greenisii  bulf,  spotted  with  bmwnisli  black  ; 
size  exceedingly  variable,  average  about  1.75  X   1.20. 

'I'lic  lila('k-iu'(  kcd  Stilt  is  comiiioii  to  many  parts  of  South 
as  will  as  .North  AiiK-rica  ;  it  is  known  at  any  rate  to  inhabit 
the  coast  of  Cayenne,  Jamaica,  and  Mexico.  In  the  I'nited 
States  it  is  seldom  seen  htit  as  a  straggler  as  far  to  the  nortli 
as  the  latitude  of  41  '.  .\b(jiit  the  25th  of  April,  according 
to  U'ilson,  the  Stilts  arrive  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  in 
small  llocks  of  twenty  or  thirty  together.  These  again  sub- 
divide into  smaller  ])arties,  but  they  still  remain  gregarious 
through  the  breeding-season.  Their  favorite  residence  is  in 
the  higher  and  more  inland  parts  of  the  greater  salt-marshes, 
which  are  interspersed  and  broken  up  with  shallow  pools,  not 
usually  overflowed  by  the  tides  during  summer.  In  these 
places  they  are  often  seen  wading  up  to  the  breast  in  water, 
in  (piest  of  the  larvK,  spawn,  llies,  and  insects  which  constitute 
their  food. 

In  the  vicinity  of  these  bare  plaices,  among  thick  tufts  of 
grass,   small   associations  of  six    or  eight  pair  take  up    their 
residence  for  the  breeding-season.      They  arc.  however,  bnt 
sparingly  dispersed  over  the  marshes,  selecting  their  fr 
spots,  while  in  large  intermediate  tracts  few  or  nonu  .if 
seen.     Ivirly  in  .May  they  begin  to  make  their         .s,   ■,, 
are  at  first  slightly  formed  of  a  mere  layer  of  o,      grass,  1  .st 
sufficient  to  keep  the  eggs  from  the  moisture  of  the  marsl   :  in 
the  course  of  incubation,  however,  either  to  guard  against  the 
rise  of  the  tides,  or  for  some  other  purpose,  the  nest  is  in- 


i;i.ack-nl:cki:i)  siii.i'. 


53 


of 


ist 
in 

I  he 
|in- 


crt-ased  in  height  with  thi'  ilry  twin's  of  sail  maiNli  ^linil)>,  root> 
of  grass,  si'a-\vi'c'(l,  and  any  oiIkt  coarse  materials  which  may 
hi'  conM'nii'nl,  nntil  llu'  whole  may  now  weigh  two  or  three 
pnnnils.  'The  eggs,  fonr  in  ninnlHT.  art.'  of  a  dark  yt'llowish 
(Iral).  thickly  marked  with  large  blotches  o['  l)r.)\vnish  black. 
These  nests  are  often  ^liiuated  within  fifteen  or  twenty  yards 
of  each  other,  the  res|ieclive  jjroprietors  living  in  nnitiiai 
friendship. 

While  the  females  are  sitting,  their  mates  are  I'ither  wading 
in  the  adjoining  ponds,  or  lra\ersing  the  marshes  in  tiie 
vicinity  ;  but  (in  the  appnxich  of  any  intrmler  in  tluir  peace- 
able community,  the  whole  troop  assemble  in  the  air,  and  llying 
steadily  with  their  long  k'gs  extended  behind  them,  keep  up  a 
continual  yelping  note  of  (■//(•/•,  i//i/.-,  click.  Alighting  on  ilie 
marsh,  they  are  often  seen  to  droj)  liieir  wingr,,  and  standing 
with  their  legs  half  bent,  and  trembling,  they  seem  to  sustain 
their  bodies  'vith  difficulty.  In  this  singular  posture  they  will 
s(jmetimes  remain  for  several  minutes,  uttering  a  (urring  sound, 
and  ([uivering  their  wings  and  long  shanks  as  if  in  the  act  (jf 
laboricKisly  bal.mcing  themselves  on  the  gnjimd.  \  great  deal 
of  this  motion  is,  however,  probably  in  man(x;uvre,  to  draw  the 
spectators'  attention  from  their  nests. 

Although  so  sedentary  in  the  breeding-season,  at  times  tliey 
extend  their  visits  to  the  shores,  wading  about  in  the  water 
and  mud  in  quest  of  their  food,  which  they  scooj)  up  with 
great  dexterity.  On  being  wounded,  while  in  the  water,  they 
sometimes  attem])t  to  escape  by  diving, — at  which,  however, 
they  are  by  no  means  ex])ert.  In  autumn  their  flesh  is  tender 
and  well  flavored.  'I'hey  dejiart  for  the  South  early  in  Se])- 
tember,  and  proceed  probal)ly  to  pass  the  winter  in  tropical 
America. 

The  Stilt  is  a  rare  bird  in  this  Kastorn  fauiial  province,  excep- 
ting in  Florida.  It  is  occasionallv  seen  along  tlie  sandy  beaches  of 
MassacluisL'tts,  and  a  few  examples  have  been  taken  in  .Maine  and 
New  Brunswick  and  in  Michitran. 


AiMKRlC  \x\    UVS IE R-CATC H KR. 

H.KAIATdPUS    I'.M.I.IATL'S. 

Chau.  T'ill  red,  long,  stout,  stiaij^ht,  ;uul  comiULsscd  towards  the 
jioint ;  feet  reel,  no  hind  toe,  outer  and  niiddje  toes  united  by  a  nicmhiane 
as  far  as  the  middle  joint.  Head  and  neek  black,  changing  to  blackish 
brown  on  back  and  wings  ;  runip,  wing-band,  tail,  and  belly  white.  Length 
iS  inches. 

A^:'.'/.  Hn  tlie  border  of  a  salt-marsh  or  upper  edge  of  a  sea-beach ; 
a  mere  depression  scratched  in  the  sand. 

/'-XX''-'-  -~3  !  bluish  wliite  or  pale  buff  marked  witli  several  shades  of 
brown  ;  2.20  X   1.55. 

The  Oyster-catcher  is  common  to  the  north  of  both  conti- 
nents, brf^cding  in  (Ireat  IJritain,  France,  Norway,  and  along 
the  borders  of  the  Caspian  :  it  is  even  seen  as  far  south  as 
Senegal  in  Africa,  lint  though  common  in  New  Jersey  and 
the  Southern  States  as  far  as  the  Bahamas,  where  these  birds 
likewise  pass  the  ])eriod  of  reproduction,  they  are  but  rarely 
seen  to  visit  the  coast  of  Massachusetts.  In  ICurojie  they 
are  said  to  retire  somewhat  inlanil  at  the  approach  of  winter ; 
in  the  Tnited  States  they  are  seen  at  this  season  along  the 
coasts  which  lie   ^otuh   of  (\a]ie    Hatteras,  on  the  borders  of 


AMERICAN   OVSTER-CATCIIER. 


55 


the   Atlantic.      Th 


ey  return   to   New  Jersey   by   the    close  of 


April,  and   frequenting  the  sandv  sea-beach 


are 


in 


-  .  .    —  .,^„^..,   ,„^    now  se 

sniall  parties  of  two  or  three  jnurs  together.     They  are  gene- 
rally w.1,1  ami   ,liffH-„lt   to   approach,  except   in  the  breedin- 
season^  and  at  tunes  mvy  be  seen  walking  erectlv  and  watch- 
fully along  the   shore,  now  and  then  probing  the  s'and  m  .p.est 
of  marine  worms,  mollusca,  aud  minute  shell-fish.     Their  larger 
prey   is   sometimes  the   .small  burrowing  crabs  called  fiddlers 
as    well  as   mussels,   solens,    and    oys/crs,   their    reputed   prey 
in  Rurope.      '1  hey  seldom,  however,  molest    the  larger  shell- 
fish in  the  United  States,  preferring  smaller  and  less  precarious 
game.     Catesby,   at    the    same    time,    asserts    that    he    found 
oysters  in  the  stomach,  and  W'illoughby  adds  that  thev  some- 
times swallowed  entire  limpets.     According  to  Iklon,  the  organ 
of  digestion  IS  indeed   spacious  and  muscular,  and  the  flesh 
of  the  bird   is  black,   hard,  and  rank    flavored.     Yet    in   the 
opinion  of  some,  the  young,  when  fat,  are  considered  as  agree- 
able food.     The  nests  of  the  Oyster-catchers  are  said  often  to 
be  ma.le  in  the   herbage  of  the  salt-marshes,  but  on  the    \t- 
lant.c  coast  these  birds  commonly  drop  their  eggs  in  slight 
hollows  scratched   in  the  coarse  sand  and  drift,  ^in  situations 
just  sufficiently  elevated  above  the  reach  of  the  summer  tides 
Ihe  eggs  are  laid    from  the  first  to  the  third  week  in   May 
and  from  the  ,5th   to   the   .5th  the  young  are   hatched,  and 
run  about  nunbly  almost  as  soon  as  they  escape  from  the  shell. 
At    irst  they  are  covered  with  a  ,Iown  nearh"  the  color  of  the 
sand,  but  marked  with  a  line  of  brownish   blark   on  ihc'  b  irk 
rump,  and  ne<k.     In  some  parts  of  llurope  ( )vsier-cat(hers   tc" 
so   remaiiiably  gregarious   in   particular  breeding-spots   that   a 
bushel  of  then-  eggs  in  a   few   hours   might  be  ;,llec:ted  from 
the  same  place. 

I^ike  (lulls  and  other  birds  of  this  class,  m,  nbation  costs 
much  less  labor  than  among  the  smaller  birds.  f„r  the  female 
s'ts  on  her  eggs  only  during  the  night  au.l  mornino,  or  in  -old 
ami  rainy  weather;  the  heat  of  the  sun  and  sand  alone  bein-^ 
generally  suH^cient  to  hatch  them,  without  the  aid  of  the  bird 
by  day.      Ihe  nest   is,  however,  assiduouslv  watch..!  with   th^ 


56 


WADING    DIRDS. 


usual  solicitude  uf  parental  arfcclioii,  ami  on  the  least  alarm 
the  male  starts  off  with  a  luud  scream,  while  the  female,  if 
present,  to  avoid  the  discovery  of  her  charge,  runs  out  some 
distance  previ(Mis  to  taking  wing,  'I'he  young,  as  soon  as  re- 
leased tVom  the  shell,  follow  the  guiding  call  of  die  mother,  and 
on  anv  imminent  danger  threatenini:,  instinctivelv  S(iuaL  on  the 
sand,  when,  from  the  similarity  of  their  color,  it  is  nearly  im- 
possible to  discover  their  artless  retreat.  On  these  occasions, 
the  parents  make  witle  circuits  on  either  hand,  now  and  then 
alighting,  and  practising  the  u^ual  stratagem  of  counterfeited 
imbecility,  to  draw  away  attention  from  their  brood.  The 
note  of  this  species  consists  commonly  of  a  (juick,  loud,  and 
shrill  whistling  call  like  ''iLiliccp,  'ic/wr/',  ?,.'//(•(',  or  /cr/>,  peep, 
often  reiterated,  as  well  at  rest  as  while  on   the  wing. 

While  migrating,  they  keep  together  in  lines  like  a  mar- 
shalled troop,  and  however  disturbed  by  the  sportsman,  they 
still  continue  to  maintain  their  ranks.  At  a  later  jteriod  the 
flock  will  often  rise,  descend,  and  wheel  about  with  great 
regulanl\-,  at  the  same  time  bringing  the  brilliant  white  (jf 
their  wings  into  con^^picuous  display.  When  woundetl,  and 
at  other  times,  according  to  ]5aillon,  they  betake  themselves 
to  the  water,  on  which  they  re]Jose,  and  swim  and  dive  with 
celerity,  'i'hey  have  sometimes  also  been  brought  up  and  tameil 
so  as  to  associate  familiarly  with  ducks  and  other  poultr\-. 

This  bin!  is  still  rare  in  Xew  England,  though  plentiful  along 
the  shores  of  the  .Middle  States.  Two  examples  have  been  taken 
on  the  ISay  of  Fund  v. 

.Mr.  Walter  Ho.vie.  in  tlie  ''Ornithologist  and  Oolo^ist  "  for 
August.  1.SS7.  gave  an  iiUercsting  aecomU  of  a  pair  of  tlu'se  birds 
niovini;  their  eu;,i:;s  when  the  nest  was  discovered.  While  .Mr. 
Ho.xie  was  watching  the  parents  thev  carried  the  eggs  about  one 
hundred  yards  from  tln'  old  nest,  and  deposited  them  safely  in  a 
nest  which   \w  .saw  the  birds  prepare. 

NoTi:.  —  Tlie  I'.uropean  Ovsti:i<-(\i  (.iii-.k  {Ifccnmliipus  osfni- 
fej^its)  oceiu's  occasionally  in  (Greenland. 


AMEkFCAX  GOLDEX  PLOVER 


57 


A.Ml'RiCAX  GOLDEX   PLOVER. 

COMMON  PLOVER.     U  .Ms  i  r.,x,;    p,,„vkk.     PALE-BELLV 

i-kj:i:.\  i'i.over. 

CHAIUDKILS    DO.MIXRUS. 

io»x-,-  „.,„;,.  „,„„;-„,  i;;!;!;;.';;:;;,!  '■;:*, ''■^'■'»i< ;" "- 

sixjttcd  with  dusky.  -'"''"""'-' t''^'  tlinwt  and  Ijixast 

islets  S;!i;-rl^!!;,:;!  tr ;,;:"'•"' ''-"'r  ■'''"''•^  ^ ''-^  ^ 

The  Common  Hover  i.,  a,-™rd,„«  ,o  ,l,e  season  of  the  ye-,r 

me    >  ,th  n,  almost  e^■e^,  ,.,„  of  ,l,e  worM,  par.ie, ,,  i/      ,' 

-uM.urope,  from  Kamtsel.uka  ,o  Cluna,  as  well   .      „  ,  i 
bonth  .ea    slands;  and  on  the  present  cominetn  ,Vo, ,      r, 
Amenca    where   i.  bree.ls,  to  the   l^alWan.i   Islands:     ti      ,u 
*cn    ,n  the  tn.erior  at  least  as  far  as  .Missottri.     It  br      K    ," 

I  i^Jtice  or  Italy,  where   it  „  also  co.nmon.     At  siieh  times  i, 
selects  the  „i,,h  and  se.lnded  ntonntains,  sheltere.i  l.v  the  he.:, 
wiiere,  without  much  attenii.t  ;it  a   nest   thr   r..nv,i  .     i 

„^  ^    r  J  >   1.     u     IH.ML,    IIH      Icma  C     (k'I)OSItS 

tZ^.  r  ^"'""■'"^■■^  «"■■  ^'^-S^  "<  ^>  I»'-""ve  eolor,  tnark 
Hitii  blackish  spots. 

JlT  Plovers  arrive  on  the  coast  of  the  Mitldle  an.l  X„rth- 
rn  States  ,n  spnngand  earlyantnmn.  XeaM.,  Xantasket  and 
(  elsea  ieach  they  are  seen  on  ,|„.ir  return  fro,,,  their  in.lem- 
em  natal  regions  in  the  north  l,v  ,l,e  dose  of  Aiitinst.  and  the 
young  remain  in  the  vicinitv  till  the  middle  of  ,  vtoher  o 
teer,  accord,,,,  to  the  state  of  the  weather.     Thev  live  pri,',,!- 

H  y  upon   ,a,,,,  insects,  or  the  l.,,.v:e   and  worms  thev'  met 

ilh  ,n  the  sahne  marshes.  an,l  appear  ve,v  loud  of  grasshop. 

Pers.     Ahont  the  time  of  their  .leparture  thev  are.  eady  i,     I  e 

morn,ng,  seen  sometimes  asscnbled  by  thousands  ;  but  they  all 


I 


58 


WADING   13IRDS. 


begin  to  disperse  as  the  sun  rises,  and  at  length  disappear  high 
in  the  air  for  the  season.  'I'hey  usually  associate,  however,  in 
small  llocks  and  families,  and  when  alarmed,  while  on  the  wing, 
or  giving  their  (all  to  those  who  are  feeding  around  them,  they 
have  a  wild,  shrill,  and  whistling  note,  and  are  at  most  vimes 
timid,  watchful,  and  difficult  to  ajjproach.  Though  they  con- 
tinue associated  in  numbers  for  common  safety  during  the  day, 
they  disperse  in  the  evening,  and  repose  a[)art  from  each 
other.  At  day-l>reak,  however,  the  feeling  of  solitude  again 
returns,  and  the  early  sentinel  no  sooner  gives  the  shrill  and 
well-known  <v?//  than  they  all  assemble  in  their  usual  company. 
At  this  time  they  are  often  caught  in  great  numbers  by  the 
fowler,  with  the  assistance  of  a  clap-net  stretched,  before 
dawn,  in  front  of  the  place  they  have  selected  to  pass  the  night. 
The  fowlers,  now  surrounding  the  spot,  prostrate  themselves  on 
the  ground  when  the  call  is  heard  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  birds  are 
collectetl  together,  tliey  rise  up  from  ambush,  and  by  shouts 
and  the  throwing  up  of  sticks  in  the  air,  succeed  so  far  in 
intimidating  the  Plovers  that  they  lower  their  flight,  and  thus 
striking  against  the  net,  it  fills  upon  them.  In  this  and  most 
other  countries  their  flesh,  in  the  autumn,  and  ])arti(  ularly  that 
of  the  young  birds,  is  esteemed  as  a  di  licacy,  and  often  exjjosed 
for  sale  in  the  markets  of  the  principal  towns. 

The  Cioldcn  Plover  is  common,  and  in  some  localities  abundant, 
in  the  autumn  along  the  sliores  of  New  England  and  the  Maritime 
Provinces,  l)ut  in  tlie  spring  migrations  it  is  rarely  or  never  seen. 

Dr.  Wlieaton  found  it  abundant  in  the  spring,  and  conunon  in 
the  fall,  in  Ohio:  but  some  observers  in  Ontario  consider  it  a  rare 
bird  in  that  province. 

Xoiic.  The  European  C/Oi.DriN  Pi.ovek  {Charadyius  apn- 
ea) ins)  has  been  seen  occasionally  in  Cireenland. 


PIPING   PLUVEK. 


59 


PIPI\(;  PI,()VER. 

^^MMAI.niS     .MKI.OD.A. 
clKs,,  fee,  orange;  I, r;„„e,  I  h  «   wi        ,   'i''''' '  ''■'"""  ?"  "''"^  "' 

;« or  u,e  .e.,  ™.n,ee.  i;  r,l,i:ttt;,. '■li;:;;-^^";:,  ;^ 

AV.S-A     Amid  tlie  shingle  of  a  ^ea-ln-ich  •  •,    I,  .11         . 
sand.  ^L.iDL.icli,  .1  ^lKlll,nv  dcpicssKm  in  tiie 

.aSs  .^.j-d^^fii'sS^  ojt-rr- :;?-•:->  ^^-  -^  - 

This  species  is  a  common  inhabitant  of  our  sea-coast   arriv 
|ng  n.  the   ^riddle  States  Iron,  its  Southern  hiberna     'e"; 
towards  the  close  of  April.     It  does  not,  houx-ver,  procee     of 
to  the  nortl,  but  resides  and  breeds  in  the  L'nit  d^;:'  I^ 
the  shores  o  New  Jersey  to  Nova  Scotia.    Alon.ahe  lo";  X 
-d  sohtary  borders  of  the  sea,  in  sn.all  scattering  Hock    ^  ^ 
PilMng  Plovers  are  therefore  seen  throughout  the  summ      'r  p- 
dly  coursu^g  over  the  strand,  either   in  quest  of  their  foc^d  or 
to  dude  the  search  of  the  intruding  spectator.     After  gh   i " 
su.itly  along  for  a  little  distance,  they  often  stopfer  a   si    n 
2-^^'  to  u-at<.h  any  approach  or  pick  np  some  inslct,  o<:ca   ^ 

attitude;  when  st.ll.  the.r  pale  luery  so  nearly  resembles  the 
color  of  the  sand  that  for  the  instant  they  are  rendered  near! 
invisible      On  approaching  their  nests,  which  are  n.ere  shallow 
hollows  in  the  sand  and  gravel,  they  usuallv  exhibit  consider^ 
able  emotion,   running  along  with  outspread   wings  and   tail 
andnutteringasiflame,to  attract  attention    from   their  e-.' 
and  young.     They  will  sometimes    j.ractise    th,s  artifice  ar^ 
considerable  distance  from  their  brood,  and  often   follow  the 
spectator   for   a   mile  or  two,   making  their  shrill,   mournful 
monotonous  call,  frequently  alighting  and  running,  with  a  vieu' 
o   deception,  near  any  place  which  happens  to  be  examined; 
and    by  these    reiterated   feints    ami  fears    it    becomes  often 
nearly  impossible  to  discover  their  breedingdiaunts.      About 


m 


6o 


WADING   BIRDS. 


the  2otli  of  May,  or  later,  as  they  procee<l  to  the  North,  they 
coniineiK  e  layini4,  the  eggs,  being  about  four,  rather  large,  of 
a  pale  cream  color,  (jr  nearly  white,  irregularly  spotted  and 
blotched  nearly  all  (ner  with  blackish  brown  and  many  sub- 
dued tints  of  a  much  jjaler  color. 

'l"he  cry  of  this  species,  uttered  whik'  running  along  the 
strand,  is  rather  soft  and  musical,  consisting  chiefly  of  a  single, 
varied,  and  repeated  plaintive  note.  On  approaching  the 
breeding-spot,  the  birds  wheel  around  in  contracting  circles, 
and  become  more  clamorous,  piping  out,  in  a  tone  of  alarm, 
'kt'-l>i(-,^  and  /<((•/>,  kccb  then  falling  off  into  a  more  feeble  kcc- 
boo,  with  occasionally  a  call  of  kih.  At  times,  in  the  same  sad 
and  wild  accent  with  the  vociferous  Lapwing,  we  hear  a  cry  of 
ktC-iL'ic,  and  even  the  same  pai-ici'c',  pci'-i'oo,  and  /di-i'oo. 
When  in  hurry  and  consternatitjn,  the  cry  resembled  '///,  '//V, 
'//A  ■//.  Sometimes,  in  apparent  artifice,  for  the  defence  of 
their  tender  brood,  besides  practising  alarming  gestures,  they 
even  M|ueak  like  young  birds  in  distress. 

The  food  of  this  species  is  (|uite  similar  with  that  of  the 
Semi-i)almated  Ring  Plover ;  indeed,  the  birds  are  scarcely  to 
be  distinguished  but  by  the  i)aleness  of  the  i)lumage  in  the 
present  species,  and  the  shortness  of  the  web  between  the 
exterior  toes.  'I'hey  are  usually  fat,  except  in  the  breeding- 
season,  and  much  esteemed  as  game. 

The  Piping  Plover  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  Xcw  Kng- 
land  and  the  Maritime  Provinces,  though  rare  in  some  localities  on 
the  Bay  of  Pundy.  Mr.  C.  B.  Cory  found  it  abundant  on  the 
Magdalen  Islands. 

Mr.  Tlioni])son  thinks  it  a  migrant  near  Toronto:  but  .Mr. 
.Saunders  found  it  lircedimr  at  Point  I'elee.  on  Lake  laie. 


XoTic.  —  The  Br.i.TEi)  Pii'i.vc.  Pi.()\-i;k  (./-".  iiuloda  ci)\!nii- 
ihii/a)  is  a  Western  variety,  restricted  chiefly  to  the  Missouri 
River  region,  though  it  has  jjeen  occasionally  seen  on  tlie  Atlantic 
coast.  It  differs  from  true  uicloda  in  havini,r"the  ])]ack  patches  on 
the  sides  of  the  chest  more  or  less  comi)leteIy  coalesced  "  instead 
of  separated. 

•  The  first  syll.ible  uttered  with  .n  giittiual  lisp. 


WILSON'S   PLOVER. 


6i 


WILSON'S  i'lovi:r. 

-1'-' MALI]  IS    WII.SOXIA. 

n.;;;::"  ,.^:;:^;:;;;-;'^:;ii;;;'^-'.-  bro.„.  .„,ed  on  U,e  nape  wi,„ 
"'ive  ;  I.ill  black,  Ion,.  a„  i  ,  't  /  I!  ",  ""  '"■'"^'  '''^^'-''^  '  ''"'  'l-"l^ 
bill.  "%iiLLkc(l      I'lovcr  by  Its  laroc  black 

in  tlie  intcTior.     ]l  „„,  ■■  „^,  [.,'  """  '"P"""'  liiwIinK  it 

Gir.iH,|-.s  <lav.  „„d  L  " \„,   °  i,     ^,  '""     ""  '-'•"«   '^'^'"■1  i" 

tl.cTc;  1„,,  ii  oca  ,-     ,   „^  '  ™     ""      ,"-■  V""""'  '"  ""'""-'y  '•-•■•>■■ 

have  hccn  ca,lit«l  ,o  \Jw   h„   I  •\""^"™-     A  l.>v  f.xan.pl.s 

o..;;.i.,  i.s.aa.,.a..i:.,t::,,;;;r;^T'„,;';'.',-',t'<i;' "--  ^""'  -- 

son's  I'lovu-s  m„ve';o    1  'i  '  ,,,;  I       r    ""'"'■     "^  '^"•«  ""■■  "'1" 
closeneiKhborhood.    T|,,.l  v„,        T    '  •'"■'-'  """  >"''"^  '" 

flit.iiv,'  .o  and  f,,;    uirrk,  V  ™|'  '  i  '"T  """"'''y  "'"'"'• 

cries  of  alarm  and  dismu     n  ,  1         f'  ■■""'  ™"li""'-<IIy  nlluin.. 
cl-crib.d  as  "half  1,      Z\T:'V"'"''-  ,  '""'"'  """■  '^^ 

rr.™  n,e  dear  „,el,o,v  pipin^onitort'o   »*;!:;  ■•"  '•^■'■^-  '"'■'^"■™' 

They  begin  to  Liy  almut  tlie  middlo  of   \iT'       ^ 
according  to  location.     Tiio  vomv"  r     '  ''  "I"  ^'■'^  "^  J""^' 

the  shell,  and  easily  escano  d        .        ?        °"  '"'  ^''^'>'  ''^'"'^  ''^^^^  "f 
which  is'verv  simlla,-  HllJ'^^'^"""  ""^  ^^^'^^"'"^  «"  the  sand. 

waves^theyconti.n;^,;r;;i.;r^^.^X;:^so^^ 

described  them  as  of  n'sorinhl.  .  '"  ^Icar,  soft  (ones.    Giraud 

Their  food  is  small  sholl  f,.u   .  ,  ^''  '"'^^"^  solitary. 

mingle  6„e  pa;,id',  oj  safd  '  ™''''"'  ""'  """">•  »""  "'-"  '"O 


62 


WADING   BIRDS. 


killi)ki:r. 

yluJiAi.rns  vocii  tra. 

CllAU.  AI)ovc,  grayish  brown;  band  on  forehead  above  and  behind 
eyes  white  l)ordL'rcd  with  l)i;ici< ;  two  l)ands  across  ciiest  Ijhick  ;  runij) 
and  ha>c  of  tail  rufous  ;  tail  with  subterniinai  band  of  biaciv  and  tipped 
wilii  wiiitc;  patch  of  white  on  wing;  under  jiarts  white.  Length  lo 
inches. 

A't'st.  Un  tlic  edge  of  a  sandy  l)cach  or  margin  of  a  niarsiiy  meadow; 
a  mere  depression  in  the  sand  or  turf,  sometimes  slightly  lined  with 
dry  grass. 

J'-.K'k's,  Usually  4;  buff,  sometimes  drabish,  marked  with  fine  spots  of 
dark  brown  ;   155  X  i.io. 

'I'hc  well-known,  restless,  and  noisy  Killdecr  is  a  coniinon 
inhabitant  throughout  the  United  States,  in  nearly  all  parts  of 
whieh  it  is  known  to  breed,  wintering,  however,  generally  to 
the  south  of  Massachusetts,  In  the  interior  it  also  i)enetrates 
to  the  sources  of  the  Mississipi)i,  the  remote  i)lains  of  the 
Saskatchewan,  and  Vieillot  met  with  it  even  in  St.  Domingo. 
On  the  return  of  spring  it  wanders  from  the  coast,  to  which  it 
had  been  confined  in  winter,  and  its  reiterated  and  shrill  cry  is 
again  heard  as  it  passes  through  the  air,  or  as  it  courses  the 
shore  of  the  river,  or  the  low  meadows  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
sea.  About  the  beginning  of  May  it  resorts  to  the  fields  or 
level  pastures  which  ha])pen  to  be  diversified  with  pools  of 
water,  and  in  such  situations,  or  the  barren  sandy  downs  in  the 
iminediate  vicinity  of  the  sea,  it  fixes  upon  a  ])lace  for  its  nest 
which  is  indeed  a  mere  slight  hollow  lined  with  such  straw  and 
dry  weeds  as  come  most  convenient.  In  one  instance  Wilson 
saw  a  nest  of  the  Killdeer  curiously  ]xived  and  bordered  with 
fragments  of  clam  and  oyster  shells  ;  at  other  times  no  vestige 
of  an  artificial  nest  was  visible.  The  eggs,  usually  four,  large 
and  ]")()inted  at  the  smaller  end,  are  of  a  yellowish  cream  color 
thickly  marketl  with  blackish  blotches. 

.At  all  times  noisy  and  querulous  to  a  proverb,  in  the  breed- 
ing-season nothing  can  exceed  the  Killdeer's  anxiety  and 
alarm  ;  and  the  incessant  cry  of  kiidccr,  kildeer,  or  ie  te  de  dit, 
and  te  dii,  as  they  waft  themselves  about  over  head  or  descend 


KII.LDEER.  ^, 

and  ny  around  you,  is  almost  deafening       \t  the.  vn„    . 

car..  „,u  ,1,.  a,„.a™„.c  ,.,•„.....  „t .  „!,'::',:„;';;;;;• ;,' 

fh..  Kr.    1-         ,'  ''^*'^^'''"<>P^'rsun  can  mm- approach 

I...      IK-T  hab.ts  are  i„  .„,„.  degree  no,  ,„rnal :  1„„  ,|,ev  ^  " 
M   argely  on  gn.«h„ppe.,  crieke.s,  carnhi.  a,„,  „  ,   ^k;     ' 
winch  fre(iiient  grassy  (iel,is  by  ,lay 

The  llight  of  these  binis  is  remarkablv  vigoro,,,  an.l  ,he>- 
onret.mes  proceed  at  a  great  height  i„  th^-  air     Tl  e       , 

fond  of  wasiring  themselves  and  wadin.^  in  the  ,    ,  1       l 
they  fre.,„e„t  for  inse.  ts ;  titeir  gait  is  ,rfely  erect   tl.'k 

n'  nke"',:.r":f  rr  "•" "-'  -'-'''  "'"--'-■ 

nesn,  i,kc   that   of  the   J.apu.ng.  is  musky,  and   not  .a-ncnllv 
estecnK.d;   „.   the    M,  however,  uhen   fi   they  are  h       n 
co^^Klered  as  well  flavore.l.    Towards  autumn  fi!milies   Is^  ^ 
to  the   sea-shore,   where    their    behavior  now   becomes   m     ' 
circumspect  and  silent.  ^^^"iits   moit 

At  one  time  the  Kiilclecr  was  not  uncommon  in  New  ].n..l-„ul 

:"Ss'nLh-rsat;fh::;:;^— »•  -"— "• 

co„.n,„,.ed  a  paper  „„  ,„e  s„bjcct  l^'^Z  i'.r'     "jl'.lr'.^s*' 

9ih^[zr^jtni::'i:::™jzr,:'r-'-r 

no  tl    „„  tie  eastern  edge  of  the  storn,  and  linallv  to  the  I    , 


f  i 


64 


WADING    lilKDS. 


II 


si:Mi-i'.\i.MA'rKi)  im,()Vi:k. 

.Im.iai.his  si:mii'.\i..\i.\i.\. 

Char  Aliuvf,  l)ri)\vnisli  ;ish  ;  rorclicad  wliitc,  l)iii(lcrc'cl  witli  Mack; 
Icmil  on  l).icU  of  tiu'  lie. id  anil  collar  on  the  brcisl  black;  liill  orange, 
tiiipcd  with  lilack       l.cii>;lli  alxnit  7  inches. 

A'lj/.  < 'n  the  Mi.iigin  of  a  siill-niai>h  or  a  swanijiy  inkl  of  the  sea  ;  a 
sli,s;lit  hollow  jiartially  lined  with  .ni.iss  or  woods. 

Av.s'*'  -~4  (iisii.illv  .|1,  t;ieenish  Inilf  or  olive  dr.d),  in.ukeil  with  sev- 
eral shades  c  1  brown;  >i/e  v;iri.djle,  .ivorage  1.30  X  0.95. 

This  small  species,  so  nearly  related  to  the  King  I'lover  of 
Knrope.  arrives  t'lHjin  the  South  alcjng  our  sea-coasts  and  those 
of  the  Middle  States  towards  tb.e  close  of  Ai)ril,  where  it  is 
seen  feeding  and  busily  collecting  its  insect  fare  initil  the  close 
of  .\I;iy.  'I'hese  birds  then  disa])pear  on  their  way  farther 
north  to  brt'cd.  and  in  the  siininier  are  even  observed  as  far  as 
the  icy  shores  of  (Ireenland.  According  to  Richardson  they 
aboinid  in  Arctic  America  during  the  summer,  and  breed  in 
similar  situaticjns  with  the  (Itilden  I'lover.  ISfr,  Ilutchins  adds, 
its  eggs,  generally  four,  are  dark  colored  and  s])otted  with 
black.  The  aborigines  s;iy  that  on  the  ajiproach  of  stormy 
weather  this  species  utters  ;i  chirping  noise  and  daps  its  wings, 
as  it  intliienced  by  some  instinctive  excitement.  'I"he  same,  or 
a  very  simihir  species,  is  also  met  with  in  the  larger  West 
India  islands  and  in  Wnv/.W  according  to  the  rude  figtu'e  and 
imi)erft'ct  description  of  Piso. 

The  early  commencement  of  inclement  weather  in  the  cold 
regions  selected  for  their  breeding  haunts  induces  the  Ring 
Plovirs  to  migrate  to  the  South  as  soon  as  their  only  brood 
have  acquired  strength  for  their  indispensable  journey.  Mocks 
of  the  old  and  yoimg  are  thus  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  Roston  by 
the  close  of  the  first  week  in  August,  and  they  have  been 
observed  on  the  shores  of  the  Cumberland,  in  Tennessee,  by 
the  ninth  of  September. 

The  Semi-palmated  Ring  Plover,  though  so  well  suited  for  an 
almost  aquatic  life,  feeds  on  land  as  well  as  marine  insects, 
collecting  weavels  and  other  kinds,  and  very  assiduously  cours- 


SE.MI-l'ALMATED    I'LoVKK 


ing  the  stnind  at  I 
hiiiUc'i 


o\v   UalLT, 


In 


cncTal,  when  not  too 


I,   tlu'y   arc    but    little   suspicious,  and 


IML't 


rly 


approached  by  the  k)U' 


may   readily   be 


whisitlin 


Icr,  as  well  as  detained  sonu-ti 


K  in  nuitation  (jC  tluMr  (|uailing  lall.     o 


nies 


by 


sions,  and  when  llushed,  tl 
in: 


I!   Mi(j',t  occa- 


!,   and   wild   note,   wry  nmch 


y  utter  a  reiterated,  sharp,  twitter- 


echoes  of  the   breaki 


m  unison   with   the  cea 


ng  surge  and   the   lasi 


near  which  they  almost  perpetually 
iiing  with  great  agility  before  the  ret 


nn< 


)f  tl 


com-se 


glidini 


seless 
le  wa\es, 
and   nni- 


'I'heir  llesh   is  coi 


autumn  they  are  not 
Xcw  \ork. 


nmonly   (at  and   well   ll 


iring  or  advancing  water 


uncoi 


mnon  in  the  markets  of  r„,st 


ivoretl,  and    in   e.irly 
on  and 


These  pretty  and  iiiteresti 


L' lilted  Stat 


Hi 


'inis  are  abundant  throughout  the 


i)Ut 


tes  (luniig  lu.il,  the  spring  and  the  aut 


s  "'"'   I'lH-  auiumn  migrations  • 
excepting  an  ueeasioual  pair  that  are  h.uiul  in  Maine,  none 


1,..      I        "   1       ,•     ,  ' ""■   ""-  'I'lum   111   .Maine,  none 

b  ee,     south   of   t  e  Canadian    boundary.      ,)r.    Lo„i.s    15.    ni.s,,o 

-ted  numbers  Ijree.hng  on  the  Ahagdalen  Islands,  in  .,S,S,S,  and 
the  birds  are  abundant  .luring  ,!,.  smnmer  on  the  coast  of  I  ,1  ra- 
in winter  they  range  into  Soul],  America,  many  goi,,.-  as  far 


ilor. 

as  Ura/il  aiu 


'cru. 


vol..    II.  - 


vm 


*>'-'^ 


.  ii  w 


RINGIOI)    PLOVKR. 

ALcw r .Ills    H lAi icu i..\ . 

Char.  Alwve,  rich  brown  ;  forehead  and  stripe  behind  the  eyes 
wliite;  crown,  chcclxs,  and  collar  black,  —  tlic  collar  widt"^".  on  the  breast; 
patch  on  wings  white;  central  tail-tVathcrs  brown,  tijipcd  with  white; 
outer  feathers  mostly  white ;  beneath,  white ;  bill  yellow,  tipped  with 
black.     Length  7 '4  inches. 

.Vi-s/.  A  cavity  among  the  jiebblcs  of  a  sea-washed  beach,  sometimes 
slightly  lined  with  weeds,  —  occ  ionally  the  lining  is  of  small  stones  about 
the  size  of  jicas. 

/■■^X^.  Usually  4;  dull  buff,  marked  with  brownish  black;  1.40  X 
1. 00. 

This  European  bird,  known  to  many  of  the  old  country  gunners 
as  the  Rin,<i[ed  Dotterel!,  and  closely  allied  to  our  well-known  Semi- 
palmated  I'lover.  was  found  by  Kumlien  breeding  in  numbers  on 
the  western  shore  of  Cumberland  Bay.  The  same  observer  reports 
it  common  also  at  D'sco  Island,  Greenland.     It  is  not   known   to 


RIN(;i:i)   I'l-OVF.R. 


^1 


occur  rc'milarlv  cIscwIutc  in  iXnicrica.  tlioiiLch  one  example  lias 
l)ieii  taken  at  ( Inat  Slave  I.aUe  :  Imt  it  is  found  tluounliDUt  liuiope, 
and  rani,'es  (iver  nortlurn  .\>ia  ti>  Herinn's  Straits.  It  is  met  witii 
tln-()ii,i;lH)ut  the  entire  year  in  linuland,  hieedinii  as  far  soiilli  as 
Kent  and  Sussex,  and  raiiLjes  north  to  lat.  bo' 45',  and  south  (in 
winter)  to  the  shores  of  Africa. 

Seehohm  thinks  that  the  l)ir(l  found  nesfini;  in  the  Uritish 
Islands  is  a  lari,Hr  and  lighter-eolored  race,  layini;  a  lander  ei^y  ; 
and  he  projio-ses  to  make  it  a  sub-species  and  name  it  liiatiiula 
major. 

Like  others  of  the  family,  tiie  KinL;ed  I'lover  feeds  on  small  thin- 
siielled  eiustaceans,  such  as  shrimps,  etc.,  and  sea-worms,  as  will 
as  on  insects,  which  it  catches  with  much  adrcjilness;  and  with  its 
food  it  minifies  small  iiehhles  and  particles  of  sand  to  aid  di;.;estion. 

The  usual  note  of  this  bird  is  a  melodious  whistle;  but  the  call- 
note  is  liarsh,  while  the  cry  of  alarm,  though  noisy,  is  rather  plain- 
tive. This  last  note  has  been  written  pcw-y-ct  and  ti>o-it.  'i'he 
male,  however,  uses  a  distinct  call-note  duriiisj;  the  niating-season. 
It  is  the  same  note  as  the  usual  call,  but  repeated  so  rapiiUy  it  iorms 
a  trill,  and  it  is  also  delivered  in  more  li(|uid  tones. 

This  I'lover  is  de.scribed  by  Seebohm  as  a  wild,  wary  bird  when 
feeding  in  its  winter-cpiarters,  but  cpiite  the  opposite  when  on  its 
breeding-grounds  in  tlie  Far  \orth.  It  there  becomes  an  unobtru- 
sive little  creature,  neither  shy  nor  wary,  and  rarely  displaying  more 
than  a  shade  of  anxiety  in  its  actions,  —  rumiingbut  a  little  distance 
from  an  intruder,  or  living  to  an  adjacent  knoll  to  watcli  his  move- 
ments ;  sometimes  scpiatting  close  to  the  sand  until  almost  under 
one's  feet.  It  runs  with  great  swiftness,  pausing  now  ami  then, 
and  darting  away  again.  Keeping  close  to  the  edge  of  the  water, 
it  follows  the  receding  waves  picking  up  what  food  may  have  been 
stranded,  and  hastening  shoreward  as  the  waves  return. 


cs 
lit 


Noi'K.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  Moi'niain  I'r.oVKR  {/Ej^id/itis 
inoiitaiui)  have  been  taken  in  Florida.  The  usual  habitat  of  this 
species  is  from  the  Great  Plains  westward. 


.■l.^^.--l" 


lUACK-r.KM.ll.I)  im,()vi:r. 

DEETLL-IIF.AI).     liUI.I.-HEAI).     SWISS    TLOVEK. 
ClIARADRirS    S(^)r.\'l  AKOI  A. 

CiiAK.  Sunniicr  plumage .  nhove,  s])otte(l  hlnck  and  wliitc  or  ashv  , 
liencatli,  black  W'inur  iiluma^c .  above,  >iiiitlc<l  black  and  brownish  vol- 
low  ;  beiicath,  black  mixed  with  w!:ite  ' 'istingui^hctl  iVom  all  other 
riovcrs  bv  having  a  hind  toe.     Length  about  12  inches. 

Ar.i/.  (In  dry  hill-.side  ;  a  slight  depression  in  the  >oil,  lined  with  a  few 
leaves  and  bits  ol'  gras-;. 

/','(,',;'■''■  4.  bullish  olive  or  greenish  drab  thickly  marked  with  brown- 
ish black  ;   J. 00  >,  1.40 

The  likick-bcllicd  or  large  Whistling  Field  Plover  is  met 
with  in  most  ]inrts  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  and  in  America 
is  known  to  breed  Trom  the  open  gronnds  of  Pennsylvania  to 
the  verv  extremity  of  tlie  Arctic  regions.     It  is  common  arcjiind 


i 


r.LACK-llKLl.IKD    I'l.OVKR. 


69 


Hudson  liay.  How  far  this  bird  extends  ils  niii,M\i lions  to  tiic 
soulhward  is  not  satistactoril)  ..x  (.'named,  ihoii.nh  liiere  is  little 
doubt  but  that  it  ranges  to  the  coiitlnes  of  Mi'xu  o,  and  it  has 
been  seen  in  considerable  number^  in  I.ouiMiana  ai;d  the  C'ar- 
olinis  dtirinti  the  winter.  .\(cordniLr  to  Wilkin  ii  generally 
arrives  in  the  inland  parts  (jf  l'enns\l\ani  i  in  the  lilier  pcUl  of 
April  ;  and  less  timid  than  the  (ioldeu  I'lover,  it  ofun  >elei  ts 
the  plouLjhed  field  for  the  >ite  of  its  nest,  where  the  ordinary 
fare  of  earth-worms,  larviXi,  beetles,  and  wiiiLjed  insects  now 
aboumls.  'I'he  nest,  as  in  most  of  the  birds  of  this  class,  is 
wry  sh/all\-  and  ([uickly  made  of  a  few  blades  of  stubble  or 
withered  Ljrass,  in  which  are  gein'rally  de]io:^ited  four  et,',L;s, 
largo  for  the  si/.e  of  the  bird  (being  scarcely  a  line  short  of  two 
inches  in  length),  of  a  cream  coUjr  slightly  inclining  to  oli\e, 
and  s]jeckled  nearly  all  over  with  small  sjiots  and  blotciies  of 
lightish  brown,  and  others  of  a  subdued  tint,  bordering  on 
laxender  purple;  the  s])e<ks.  as  usual,  more  numerous  towards 
the  large  vnd.  In  the  more  tein])erate  parts  of  the  I'mted 
States  it  rears  often  two  broods  in  the  season,  tliough  onl\-  (jne 
in  Massachusetts,  where,  indeed,  the  nests  are  of  rare  (x  (  ur- 
renrc.  During  the  summer  the  young  and  old  now  ked 
much  upon  various  kinds  of  berries,  ])articularly  those  of  the 
early  bramble,  called  dew-berries  ;  and  their  lu'^h  at  ilii-.  time 
is  highlv  esteemed.  About  tlu'  List  week  in  August  the  Uelel- 
headcvl  l*lo\ers  (as  they  are  <alled  in  New  laigland)  dex  end 
witli  their  xoung  to  the  borders  of  the  sea-coast,  where  they 
assemble  in  great  numbers  from  all  their  Ncjrthern  breedmg- 
])laces.  Now  ])assing  an  unsettleil  and  ro\ing  life,  without 
anv  motive  to  local  attachment,  they  crowd  to  such  ])laces  as 
]ironiise  them  the  easiest  and  surest  means  of  subsistence  ; 
at  this  time  small  shell-fish,  shninps.  and  other  minute  marine 
animals,  as  wi'll  as  the  grasslmppers,  wliich  abound  in  the 
fields,  con.-.titute   their  jJriiKUpal   tare. 

'I'he  1  Hack-bellied  Plo\er  is  at  all  times  extremely  shy  and 
watchful,  Uttering  a  loud,  rather  plaintive  whisdinLi  note  a>  it 
flies  high  and  circling  in  the  ;iir.  and  is  x^  olten  noisy,  parlic- 
ularlv  in  the  breeiling-season,  as  to  have  acquired  among  many 


.1 


.5 


;o 


WADING   BIRDS. 


of  the  gunners  along  the  coast  the  name  of  the  IJlack-belHed 
Kilkleer.  From  a  supposed  similarity,  jirobably  in  the  note,  it 
is  remarkable  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Faroe  Islands  de- 
nominate the  Oyster-catcher  kiehkr,  and  in  Iceland  the  male 
is  named  tilldtir,  and  the  female  tilldra.  Indeed,  the  conii)ass 
of  voice  in  a  great  portion  of  this  tribe  of  birds,  more  or  less 
related  to  the  Plovers,  is  remarkable  for  its  similarity.  The 
]>etel-headed  Plovers  usually  linger  round  the  sea-coast  in  the 
Middle  States  till  the  commencement  of  November,  when, 
the  frosts  l)eginning  sensibly  to  diminish  their  ])r(js]>ect  of  sub- 
sistence, they  instinctively  move  off  towards  the  South.  j)roceed- 
ing  probably,  at  this  time,  under  the  shade  of  twihght,  as 
moving  flocks  arc  nowhere,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  seen  by  day. 
About  the  middle  of  September  in  the  marshes  of  Chelsea 
(Mass.),  contiguous  to  the  beach,  they  sometimes  assemble  at 
day-break  in  flocks  of  more  than  a  thousand  individuals 
together,  and  soon  after  disperse  themselves  in  com])anies  to 
{q:zk\,  on  the  shores,  upon  small  shell- fish  and  marine  insects. 
This  crowding  instinct  takes  place  a  short  time  previous  to 
their  general  migration  southward. 

Wilson  originated  tlie  error  tliat  tliis  species  breeds  in  the 
mountains  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Audubon,  Ricliarclson.  Xuttall, 
and  others  have  hcl])L'd  to  perpetuate  it.  Tliere  is  no  good  evidence 
obtainal)le  that  the  l)ird  iias  nested  south  of  the  Hudson  Bav  dis- 
trict, but  numerous  observers  have  met  witli  it  in  summer  on  the 
Barren  (Iround  region  and  along  the  shores  of  the  Aretic  Ocean. 
It  has  been  found  in  winter  in  the  West  Indies  and  Soutli  .Amer- 
ica On  iis  spring  migration  it  t^joes  north  hv  various  routes.  — 
across  tlie  interior  as  well  as  r.lonij  the  const-line. — but  on  tlie 
Atlantic  shores  it  is  more  abundant  in  autumn  than  in  spring 

I  did  not  meet  witli  any  examples  during;;  spring  on  the  I)a\  of 
Fundy  or  tlie  New  Brunswick  sliores  of  the  Ciulf  of  .St.  Lawrence, 
but  Mr.  I'oardman  hiforms  me  that  the  species  occurs  sparingly  at 
the  mouth  of  the  .St.  Croi.v  River.  Stearns  reported  it  common  in 
southern  Labrador,  but  Turner  did  not  lind  it  at  L'nuava. 


Note.  —  Occasionally  an  example  of  the   Latwixc;  {Winellwi 
'(incllus)   -  a   European  species  —  visits  Greenland. 


-••.v.>. 7^^^,      >^  ,,/■, 


TURNSTONE. 

CHICKEN    PLOVER.     BKAX T    BIRD.     RED-LEGCED    PEOVEK. 
Arf.naria    INTERPRES. 

Char  Head,  neck, breast,  and  shoulders  variegated  black  and  white; 
back  streaked  chestnut  and  black;  wings  with  hand  of  ,vhite;  rump 
white;  tail-coverts  and  most  of  tail  feathers  dark  l)riiwn;  beneath,  wlnte. 
Legs  and  feet  orange  red;  hind  toe  turning  iimuud.  \\\\\  black,  si  >ut. 
and  acute.     Length  9  inches. 

A'est  L'uder  shelter  of  bushes  or  among  herbage  near  the  sea-shore; 
a  slight  depression,  lined  with  a  few  leaves  and  blades  of  grass  or  weed- 
stems. 

E!:>gs.  2-4  fu>nallv  4)  ;  greenish  gray,  si)otted  and  streaked  with 
brown  and  bluish  ash;    i  Cio    <    i.io. 

These  singular  niarinL'  birds  are  not  only  common  to  the 
whole  northern  hemisphere,  but  extend  tln'ir  colonies  even  to 
Senegal  and  the  Cape  of  dood  Hojie,  in  the  southern  half  of 
the  globe.  'I'heir  favorite  breeding-resorts  are,  however,  (on- 
fined  to  the  inclement  regions  of  the  North,  to  which  they  are 
in  no  haste  to  return,  hut  linger  ,i!ong  the  coast  in  the  tem- 
perate climates  for  sevei;il  months  before  they  att.iin  to  the 
remote  and  desolate  shores  of  their  nativity.     Their  soutliern 


72 


WADING   IJIRDS. 


y 


progress  in  America  is  in  all  probability  continued  as  far  as  the 
tropics,  since  their  race  even  extentls  itself  into  the  other  hemi- 
sphere. Ijiiffon.  in  fiict,  figures  a  specimen  of  the  young  bird 
from  Cayenne.  In  New  Jersey,  according  to  Wilson,  these 
birds  arrive  in  the  month  of  April,  and  there  linger  until  June, 
very  soon  after  which  they  are  seen  at  their  breeding-cjuarters 
on  the  shores  of  Hudson  Bay  and  along  the  desolate  strand  of 
the  Arctic  Sea,  where  they  have  been  met  with  by  the  northern 
navigators  as  far  as  the  75th  ])araljel.  They  already  begin  to 
depart  from  these  remote  boreal  regions  in  August,  in  which 
month,  and  even  towards  the  close  of  July,  1  have  seen  young 
birds  for  sale  in  the  market  of  Boston.  They  visit  the  shores 
of  (Ircat  Britain  also  about  the  same  time,  arriving  thence 
probably  from  the  Arctic  shores  of  Siberia.  Five  or  six  weeks 
later  they  are  observed  to  visit  the  borders  of  the  Delaware, 
and  proceed  onward  to  the  South  as  the  weather  increases  in 
coldness.  The  most  southern  summer  residence  of  these  birds 
known,  i."  Mr.  Flemming  be  correct,  is  the  Scottish  isles  of  Zet- 
land. I'hey  are  also  said  to  inhabit  the  isles  of  the  Baltic 
during  summer.  In  a  mere  depression  of  the  sand  or  gravel, 
along  the  sea-coast,  they  are  said  to  drop  their  eggs,  which  are 
four  in  number,  and  according  to  Mr.  Hutchins  are  of  an 
olive  green  spotted  with  blackish  brown. 

This  bird  is  naturally  of  a  wild  anil  solitary  disi)osition, 
coursing  along  the  shore  by  pairs  or  in  small  families  which 
have  been  bred  together.  In  the  months  of  May  and  June,  in 
New  Jersey,  they  almost  wholly  feed  n\xm  th^  s])awn  of  the 
king-crab,  or  horse-foot  {Monociilus  polyphcmus,  Li\.),  which 
affords  them  wwA  other  animals  an  abundant  and  almost  inex- 
haustible supi)ly- 

Tiie  Turnstone,  while  flying,  ot'ten  utters  a  loud  twittering 
note,  and  runs  at  times  with  its  wings  lowered,  but  is  less  swift 
in  its  movements  than  most  of  the  Sandpipers,  ami  more 
j)atient  and  intent  in  obtaining  its  fare.  Like  the  Wood- 
peckers, it  is  content  to  search  over  the  same  ]ilace  for  a  con- 
siderable length  of  time  ;  the  mechanism  of  its  bill  seems  well 
I)r()vided   for  this   jiurpc^e,  and   it   is   often  seen  in  this  way 


I!   i 

\ 


v. 


WHOOPING   CKAXE. 


73 


turning  over  stones  and  pebbles  from  side  to  side  in  .search 
of  various  marine  worms  antl  insects.  'J'he  young  feed  also 
upon  shrimps  and  different  kinds  of  small  shell-fish,  particu- 
larly minute  nnissels  which  are  occasionally  cast  up  by  the 
tides.  According  to  C'atesby,  this  habit,  of  turning  over 
stones  in  cpiest  of  insects  is  retained  by  the  species  even 
when  subjected  to  domestication. 

The  Turnstone  is  a  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant  throu-di- 
out  this  Eastern  region,  but  near  the  Atlantic  is  found  onlv  on  tlie 
sea-sliore.  It  makes  its  nest  in  the  Arctic  regions,  from  Hudson 
Bay  northward,  and  during  the  winter  ranges  throughout  S.xith 
America  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan. 

The  food  of  these  lairds  is  the  usual  shore-bird  diet:  but  they 
have  been  kn-.vn  to  thrive  upon  boiled  rice  and  bread  soaked  in 
milk.  I  hey  make  interesting  pets,  as  thev  are  gentle  and  confid- 
uig,  and  are  readily  reconciled  to  confinement. 


WHOOPINC;    CR.WF.. 

GREAT    WHITE  CKAXE. 

CIkls   a.mi:kilax.\. 

Ch.ar.  General  plumage  white;  outer  wiug-fcathcrs.  or  primaries, 
black  ;  crown  and  cheeks  nearly  naked  and  colored  orange  red  the 
spar..c   ha,r-l,ke  feather.s  black;    tail    covered  with    long    am'  gr  k^i 

Ms/.  On  a  dry  mound  in  a  marsh  or  on  margin  of  a  swamp  ;  made  of 
heavy  marsh  grass  and  placed  on  high  platform  of  secL^es 

£^^s.  2-y,  rough  and  coarse,  bluish  -.h  sometimes  fnged  with 
brown;  marked  with  pale  brown;  3.80  X  2.60. 


1  his  stately  Crane,  the  largest  of  all  the  feathered  tribes  in 
the  Lnited  States,  like  the  rest  of  its  family  dwelling  amidst 
marshes  and  dark  and  desolate  swamps,  according  to  the 
season  is  met  with  in  almost  everv  j.art  of  North  America 
from  the  islands  of  the  West  In, lies,  to  which  it  retires  to  i)ass 
the  winter,  to  the  utmost  habita])le  regions  and  fur  countries  of 
the  North.  A  few  of  these  birds  hibernate  in  the  warmer  parts 
of  the  Union,  an<l  some  have  been  known  to  linger  through 


f 


74 


WADING   BIRDS. 


li 


the  whole  of  the  inclement  season  in  the  swamps  of  New 
Jersey,  near  to  Cape  May.  When  discovered  in  their  retreats, 
they  are  observed  wandering  along  the  marshes  and  miuldy 
flats  near  the  sea-shore,  in  (luest  of  reptiles,  fish,  and  marine 
worms.  Occasionally  they  are  seen  sailing  along  from  place 
to  place  with  a  heavy,  silent  llight,  elevated  but  little  above 
the  surface  of  the  earth.  Vavt  wary,  and  stealing  from  the 
view  of  all  observers,  these  gaunt  shades  of  something  which 
constantly  avoids  the  social  light  impress  the  mind  no  less 
with  curiosity  than  aversion  ;  and  it  is  surprising  that,  furtive 
and  inharmonious  as  owls,  they  have  not  excited  the  prejudice 
of  the  superstitious. 

At  times  they  utter  a  loud,  clear,  and  piercing  cry  that  may 
])e  heard  to  a  very  considerable  distance,  and  which,  being 
not  unaptly  comiJared  to  the  whoop  or  yell  of  the  savages 
when  rushing  to  battle,  has  conferred  upon  our  l)ird  h\>  pecu- 
liar appellation.  Other  s])ecies  of  the  genus  posses^  also  the 
same  sonorous  cry.  When  wounded  they  attack  those  who 
approach  them  with  considerable  vigor,  so  much  so  as  to  have 
been  known  to  dart  their  sharp  and  dagger-like  bill  through 
the  incautious  hand  held  out  for  their  capture.  Indeed, 
according  to  Dr.  Richardson,  they  have  sometimes  driven  the 
fowler  fairly  out  of  the  field. 

In  the  winter  season,  dispersed  from  their  native  haunts  in 
fjuest  of  subsistence,  they  are  often  seen  prowling  in  the  low 
gromids  and  rice-fields  of  the  Southern  States  in  quest  of 
insects,  grain,  and  reptiles ;  they  swallow  also  mice,  moles, 
rats,  and  frogs  with  great  avidity,  and  may  therefore  be  looked 
upon  at  least  as  very  useful  scavengers.  They  are  also  at 
times  killed  as  game,  their  flesh  being  well  flavored,  as  they 
do  not  subsist  so  much  upon  fish  as  many  other  birds  of  this 
family.  It  is  with  difficailty,  however,  that  they  can  be 
approached  or  shot,  as  they  are  so  remarkably  shy  and  vigilant. 
They  build  their  nests  on  the  ground,  after  the  manner  of  the 
common  Crane  of  Europe,  selecting  a  tussock  of  long  grass  in 
some  secluded  and  solitary  swamp,  raising  its  sides  to  suit 
their  convenience  so  as  to  sit  u])>n  it  with  extended  legs.    'I'he 


I  . 


'. 


WIIOUriNG   CRANE, 


75 


eggs  are  two  in  number,  as  large  as  those  of  the  swan,  and  of  a 
bhiish-white  color  blotchcil  with  brown. 

Whooping  Cranes-rise  with  difficulty  from  the  ground,  flying 
low  for  a  time,  and  thus  afford  an  easy  mark  for  the  sportsman. 
At  other  times  they  fly  around  in  wide  circles  as  if  reconnoi- 
tring the  surrounding  country  for  fresh  feeding  ground  ; 
occasionally  they  rise  spirally  into  the  air  to  a  great  height, 
mingling  their  screaming  voices  together,  which  are  still  so 
loud,  when  they  are  almost  out  of  sigiil,  as  to  resemble  a  ))aik 
of  hounds  m  full  cry.  Marly  in  February  \\'ilsi)n  met  with 
several  of  these  Cranes  in  South  Carolina  ;  at  the  same  season 
and  in  the  early  part  of  the  following  month  I  heard  their 
clamorous  cries  nearly  every  morning  around  the  enswamped 
ponds  (jf  West  Florida  and  throughout  (leorgia,  so  that  many 
individuals  jirobably  pass  either  the  winter  or  the  whole  year 
in  the  southern  es.tremity  of  the  Union. 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  clamor  of  one  of  these  roost- 
ing flocks,  which  they  begin  usually  to  utter  about  sunrise. 
Like  the  howling-monkeys,  or  pn-K  hers,  of  South  .America  (as 
they  are  called),  a  single  indivi<lual  seemed  at  first  as  if 
haranguing  or  calling  out  to  the  assembled  company,  and  after 
uttering  a  round  number  oi  discordant,  sonorous,  and  braying 
tones,  the  address  seemed  as  if  received  with  becoming  a])- 
plause.  and  was  seconded  with  a  reiterati m  of  jingling  and 
trumpeting  hurrahs.  The  idea  conveyed  by  this  singular  asso- 
ciation of  sounds  was  so  striking,  (juaint,  and  ludicrous  that  1 
could  never  hear  it  without  smiling  at  the  conceit.  Captain 
Amidas  (the  first  F.nglishman  who  ever  set  foot  in  North 
America)  thus  graphic-allv  describes  their  clamcjr  on  his  land- 
ing on  the  isle  of  Wokokou.  off  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  in 
the  month  of  July:  "Such  a  tlock  of  Cranes  (tiie  most  part 
white)  arose  under  us,  with  su'h  a  cry,  redoubled  by  many 
echoes,  as  if  an  army  of  men  had  shcitcd  all  together."  But 
though  this  display  of  their  discordant  calls  may  be  amusing, 
the  bustle  of  their  great  migrations  and  the  jiassage  of  their 
mighty  armies  fills  the  mind  with  wonder.  In  the  month  of 
December,  iSii,  while  leisurely  descending  on  the  bo^om  of 


76 


VVAULNd   DIRDS. 


the  Mississi])])i  in  one  of  the  trading  boats  of  that  period,  1 
had  an  oi)]Jortunity  of  witnessing  one  of  these  vast  migrations 
of  the  Whooping  Cranes,  assembled  by  many  thoiisantls  from 
all  the  marshes  and  impassable  swamps  of  the  North  and  West. 
'I'he  whole  continent  seemed  as  if  giving  uj)  its  (pujta  of  the 
species  to  swell  the  mighty  host,  'i'heir  llighl  took  jjlace  in 
the  nig'.U,  down  the  great  aerial  \alley  of  the  river,  whose 
southern  course  conducted  them  every  instant  towards  warmer 
and  more  hospitable  climes.  The  clangor  of  these  numennis 
legions  passing  along  high  in  the  air  seemed  almost  deafening ; 
the  confused  cry  of  the  vast  army  continued  with  the  length- 
ening procession,  and  as  the  vocal  call  continued  nearly 
throughout  the  whole  night  without  intermission,  some  idea 
may  be  formed  of  the  immensity  of  the  numbers  now  assem- 
bled on  their  annual  journey  t(j  the  regions  of  the  South. 

Tlic  Wliooping  Crane  is  almost  entirely  confined  to  the  central 
portions  of  the  continent,  breeding  from  about  the  forty-third  i)ar- 
allcl  nortliward.  and  wintering  in  Texas  and  the  swamp\-  interior  of 
Florida.  It  is  doubtful  if  tliis  species  ever  occurred  in  New  l^ng- 
land,  and  at  tliis  day  it  is  not  seen  near  tlie  Atlantic  to  the  north  of 
the  Cliesapeake.  It  is  a  rare  spring  and  fall  niigr  mt  in  Oiiio,  and 
a  few  pairs  nest  annually  in  the  prairie  region  of  Illinois. 


LITTI.H    P.ROWN   CRANE. 

Ciurs  cAXAnF.xsis. 

("hak.  General  color  l)luish  ^ray,  waslud  in  plares  with  tawny; 
checks  and  tliroat  ashy,  somutimcs  while  ;  ciown  partiallv  covered  with 
l)Iack  luiir-likc  feathers  ;  winns  ashy  brown  ;  liill  lilackish.  Young  l)rown- 
ish  gray  waslicil  with  tawnv.     r.enn;tli  al)out  3  feet. 

AV.>7  On  the  niarshv  !)ank  of  a  river  or  pond;  a  hollow  in  tlie  turf 
lined  with  dry  grass. 

£i:X'i'-  Usuailv  2  ;  olive  drab  or  ashy  \cIlow  or  sea-green,  marked  with 
brown  ;   3/)5  X  -.,iO- 

For  the  distribution  of  this  species,  see  t!ic  account  of  the  Sand- 
hill Crane. 


! 


I 


( 


I 


SANDHILL  CRANE,  -in 

SAM)HII,L   CRAXE. 

liKOWX    CKANK. 

CIrl's  MKXKANA. 

^  Char.     Si.nila.-  tc  the  Little   llnnvn  Cnuu..  hut  larger.     Length  about 

AV.y  and   /:;-x     Sunilar  to  the  .mailer   race.     The  cl-s  hii 
X  2.45.  0° 


^LT  ;  4,00 


Ihis  species,  scarcely  inferior  to  the  anwricana  in   magni- 
tude, visits  all  parts  of  the  fur  countries  in  summer  up  to'the 
shores   of  the    Arctic   Sea,   and   is   indeed,    a<:conlinK   to    the 
season,  spread  more  or  less  throughout  North  America.  lia\in.r 
been   observe.!   in    Mexico,    Louisiana,   and    Florida.      It   also 
probably  breeds   in   the   interior  of  the   continent,   as  Major 
Long  sau-  it  in  the  Illinois  country  on  the  15th  of  July       As 
early  as  the   7th  of  February  Kalm   observed   flocks   passing 
over  New  Jersey  and   Pennsylvania  on  their  way  either  to  the 
North  or  West;   but  as  the  Atlantic  coast  has  become  more 
settled  and  populous,  these  shy  birds  have,  for  the  most  part 
altered  their  route,  and  now  proceed  more  within  the  wilder 
interior  of  the  continent.    Li  ^ray  they  are  seen  about  Hudson 
Lay;  and  like  the  Whooping  Crane,  which  they  resemble  in 
manners,  they  nest  on  the  ground,  laying  two  eggs,  of  an  oil 
green,   irregularly  and   rather   thickly    spotted  with   yellowish 
brown  and  umber,  the  spots  confluent  and  dark  on  the  greater 
end.    The  flesh  is  accounted  good  food,  resembling  that\,f  the 
Swan  {Cys^nus  biicciuator)  in  flavor. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  the  older  writers  should  have  treated 
canadcms  and  mcxicana  as  one  species,  for  in  appearance  and  in 
Seneral  distribution  tliey  are  very  similar,  though  the  larger  of  the 
two  may  ne  termed  a  .Southern  race,  as  it  breeds  south  to  Florida, 
vhde  the  .smaller  race  breeds  north  to  the  Arctic  regions;  but  both 
forms  are  found  on  the  Western  plains. 

Along  the  valley  of  the  Mi.ssi.ssippi  these  birds  are  very  abun- 
dant; but  excepting  an  occasional  wanderer,  thev  are  .seen  to  the 
eas  ward  of  that  river  in  Georgia  and  Florida  only.  One  example 
of  the  Little  Brown  Crane  was  shot  in  Rhode  Island  durin-^ 
October,  1S89. 


(I 


78 


WADING    BIRDS. 


I 


GREAT    ni.lIE    HERON 
iJLUK  cram:. 

AkDKA    IIKKODIAS. 

Til AR.  General  cnlor  asliy  l)lue,  darker  on  tlie  wings  ;  tlii.nlis  and 
ctljic  ot  win;;.s  tlitslnut ;  cre>.t  wliiu-,  boidficil  by  blai.U,  tioni  wliicli  ex- 
tiiid  two  lon)^,  slciukr  black  leathers  ;  spots  of  diiskv  and  chestnut  on 
front  of  the  neck;  iniilcr  parts  dusky,  broadlv  striped  with  white  ;  loni; 
and  slender  plumes  of  p. lie  [learls  i;ray  hani;  from  the  breast  and  fall 
gracefully  over  the  wings  (these  plumes  arc  wanting  in  the  autumn)  ;  bill 
longer  than  the  iiead,  stout,  and  acute,  of  yellow  color  ;  legs  and  feet 
black.      Length  about  42  t(j  50  inches. 

A'est.  Usually  with  a  community  situated  in  a  sycamore  or  cypress 
swamp,  or  (at  the  North)  in  a  grove  of  deciduous  trees;  '>laced  on  the 
upper  branches  of  tall  trees,  —  sometimes  on  bare  rocks;  Uiade  ot"  small 
dry  twigs,  and  lined  each  year  with  fresh  green  twigs. 

KkX^-     3-5  (usually  4)  ;  greenish  blue;  2.50  X  1.50. 

'Hie  (ireat  Heron  of  America,  nowhere  numerous,  may  be 
considered  as  a  constant  inhabitant  of  the  Atlantic  States,  from 
New  York  to  East  Elorida,  in  the  storms  of  winter  seeking  out 
open  springs,  muddy  marshes  subjected  to  the  overflow  of 
tides,  or  the  sheltered  recesses  of  the  cedar  and  cypress  swamps 
contiguous  to  the  sea-coast.  As  a  rare  or  accidental  visitor, 
it  has  been  found  even  as  fiir  north  as  Hudson  Ikiy,  and  com- 
monly passes  the  breeding-season  in  small  mnnbers  along  the 
coasts  of  all  the  New  I'Jigland  States  and  the  adjoining  parts 
of  iJritish  America.  Mr.  Say  also  observed  this  species  at 
Pembino,  in  the  49th  parallel.  Ancient  natural  heronries  of 
this  species  occur  in  the  deep  maritime  swamjjs  of  North  and 
South  Carolina  :  similar  associations  for  breeding  exist  also  in 
the  lower  i^arts  of  New  Jersey.  Its  favorite  and  long-fre- 
quented resorts  are  usually  dark  and  enswamped  solitudes  or 
boggy  lakes,  grown  \\\t  with  tall  cedars,  and  entangled  with  an 
under-growth  of  bushes  and  Kalmia  laurels.  These  recesses 
defy  the  reclaiming  hand  of  cultivation,  and  present  the  same 
gloomy  and  haggard  landscape  they  did  to  the  aborigines  of 
the  forest,  who,  if  they  existed,  might  still  pursue  through  the 
tangled  mazes  of  these  dismal  swamps  the  retreating  bear  and 


( 


GREAT   HLUE    HERON. 


79 


timorous  deer.     From  the  l)osom  of  these  rhoketl  likes,  and 
arisin.i,'  out  of  tlie   dark  and  i)il(hy  bog,  may  b;-   six-n   largo 
(dumps  of   the  tall  cypress   {Cupirssiis  i/is/u/ni),  like  tlu'  in- 
numerable connecting  c(duums  of  the   shady    mangnno,   for 
sixty  or  more  feet  rising  without  a  branch     and  their  spreading 
tops,  blending  together,  form  a  canopy  so  dense  as  almost  to 
exclude  the  light  from  beneath  their  branches.      In  the  U)\)^  of 
the   tallest  of  these   tree   the  wary  Herons,  associated  to  the 
number  of  ten  or  fifteen  pair,  ccmstruct  their  nests,  each  one 
in  the  top  of  a  single  tree  ;  these  are  large,  formeil  of  coarse 
sticks,  and  merely  lined  with  smaller  twigs.     'Ihe  eggs,  gene- 
rally four,  are  somewhat   larger  than   those   of  the   hen,  of  a 
light-greenish  blue,  and  destitute  of  spots.    'I'he  young  are  seen 
abroad  about  the  middle  (jf  May,  and  become  extremely  fat 
ami  full  grown  before  they  make  any  effective  attempts  to  lly. 
They  raise  but  a  single  brood;  antl  when  dihturbed  at   their 
eyries,   fly  over  the  spot,  sometimes   honking    almost    like  a 
goose,  and  at  others  uttering  a  loud,  hollow,  and  guttural  grunt. 
Fish  is  the  principal  food  of  the  (Ireat  Herons,  and  for  this 
purpose,  like  an  experienced  angler,  they  often  wait  for  that 
condition  of  the  tide  which   best  suits  their  exjierience  and 
instinct.     At  such  times  they  are  seen  slowly  sailing  out  from 
their  inland  breeding-haunts  during  the  most  silent  and  cool 
period  of  the  summer's    day,  selecting  usually   such  shallow 
inlets  as  the   ebbing  tide  leaves   bare  or  accessible    to  their 
watchful  and  patient  mode  of  prowling  ;  here,  wading  to  the 
knees,  they  stand  motionless  amidst  the  timorous  fry  till  S(jme 
victim  coming  within  the  compass  of   their  wily  range  is  as 
instantly  seized  by  the  powerful  bill  of  the  Heron  as  if  it  were 
the  balanced  poniard  of  the  assassin  or  the  unerring  pounce 
of  the  Osprey.     If  large,  the  fish  is  beaten  to  death,  and  com- 
monly swallowed  with  the  head  descending,  as  if  to  avoid  any 
obstacle  arising  from  the  reversion  of  the  fins  or   any   hard 
external  processes.     On  land   the  Herons  have  also  their  fare, 
as  they  are   no  less  successful  anglers  than  mousers.  and  ren- 
der an  important    service  to  the  farmer   in    the    destruction 
they  make  among  most  of  the  reptiles  antl  meadow  shrews. 


>.<M 

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^'^^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


! 


A 


1^    ^"^V/ 


Ua 


k 


80 


WADING   BIRDS. 


1i 


ir 


Grasshoppers,  other  large  insects,  and  particularly  dragon- flies 
they  are  very  expert  at  striking,  and  occasionally  feed  upon 
the  seeds  of  the  pond-lilies  contiguous  to  their  usual  haunts. 
Our  species,  in  all  probability,  as  well  as  the  European  Heron, 
at  times  also  preys  upon  young  birds  which  may  be  acciden- 
tally straggling  near  their  solitary  retreats.  The  foreign  kind 
has  been  known  to  swallow  young  snipes  and  other  birds 
when  they  happen  to  come  conveniently  within  reach. 

'Ihe  Heron,  though  sedate  in  its  movements,  flies  out  with 
peculiar  ease,  often  ascending  high  and  proceeding  iar  in  its 
annual  migrations.  When  it  leaves  the  coast  and  traces  on 
wing  the  meanders  of  the  creek  or  river,  it  is  believed  U) 
prognosticate  rain;  and  when  it  proceeds  downwards,  dry 
weather.  From  its  timorous  vigilance  and  wildness  it  is  very 
difficult  to  a|)proach  it  v/ith  a  gun  ;  and  unheeded  as  a  depre- 
dator on  the  scaly  fry,  it  is  never  sought  but  as  an  object  of 
food,  and  for  this  purpose  the  young  are  generally  preferred. 

The  present  is  very  nearly  related  to  the  Common  Heron 
of  Europe,  which  appears  to  be  much  more  gregarious  at  its 
breeding-places  than  ours  ;  for  Pennant  mentions  having  seen 
as  many  as  eighty  nests  on  one  tree,  and  Montague  saw  a 
heronry  on  a  small  islan^i  in  a  lake  in  the  north  of  Scotland 
whereon  there  was  only  one  scrubby  oak-tree,  which  being 
insuflicient  to  contain  all  the  nests,  many  were  placed  on  the 
ground  sooner  than  the  favorite  situation  should  be  abandoned. 
The  decline  in  the  amusement  of  hawkinp  has  now  occasioned 
but  little  attention  to  the  preservation  of  heronries,  so  that 
nine  or  ten  of  these  nurseries  are  nearly  all  that  are  known  to 
exist  at  present  in  Great  Hritain.  "  Not  to  know  a  Hawk  from 
a  //(•n>fis//(r7c>"  (the  former  name  for  a  Heron)  was  an  old 
adage  which  arose  when  the  diversion  of  Heron-hawking  was 
in  high  fashion ;  and  it  has  since  been  corrupted  into  the  ab- 
surd vulgar  i)rovcrb,  "  not  to  know  a  hawk  from  a  handsaw  "  1 
As  the  Rooks  are  very  tenacious  of  their  eyries,  and  piratical  to 
all  their  feathered  neighbors,  it  might  be  expected  that  they 
would  at  times  prove  bad  and  encroaching  neighbors  to  the 
quiet  Herons ;  and  I  have  been  credibly  informed  by  a  friehd 


u 


GREAT  IHX'E   HERON. 


8i 


that  at  Mr.  Wilson's,  at  Dalhini  'I'owcr,  near  Milthorp  in  West- 
moreland, a  battle  took  place  betwixt  the  Rooks  ami  Herons 
for  the  possession  of  certain  trees  and  old  nests  \vhi(  h  was 
continued  for  five  days  in  succession,  with  varying  success  and 
loss  of  life  on  both  sides,  when,  I  believe,  they  at  length  came 
to  the  sage  conclusion  that  their  better^  had  at  times  acceded 
to  after  an  etpially  fruitless  contest ;  namely,  to  leave  things 
/'//  statu  quo  antr  helium. 

'i"he  Kurojjean  Heron  appears  to  give  a  preference  to  fresh- 
water fish,  and  for  the  purpose  of  taking  its  prey,  gently  wades 
into  the  water  where  they  abound,  and  standmg  on  one  leg  up 
to  the  knee,  with  its  head  drawn  in,  reclined  upon  its  breast, 
it  quietly  watches  the  approach  of  its  prey.  It  has  been  re- 
marked by  many  that  the  fish  generally  swarm  around  the 
Herons,  so  as  to  afford  an  am])le  supi)iy  without  muc  h  exer- 
tion ;  and  Bechstein  remarks,  after  repeated  observations,  that 
the  source  of  this  attraction  to  the  Heron  is  merely  the  excre- 
ment of  the  bird,  whic*^  t'  <■  fi^l\  according  to  exj)eriment, 
devour  with  avidity.     Its  tin.  fishing,  like  that  of  our  own 

si)ecies,  is  usually  before  or  after  sunset.  Though  there  is  no 
ground  for  believing  that  the  Heron  acquires  a  mac  iient  con- 
stitution by  privation,  it  is  certain  that  in  I'.urope,  from  a  scar- 
city of  food,  it  becomes  extremely  lean.  It  is  known  fretiuently 
to  feed  by  moonlight,  at  which  time  it  becomes  tolerably  fat, 
being  then  unmolested  ;  and  it  is  observed  that  the  fish  at  this 
time  come  into  the  shoaler  waters. 

The  Great  Blue  Heron  is  not  an  abundant  bird,  but  it  is  found 
more  or  less  i Miimonly  throughout  this  Eastern  region  uortli  to 
about  the  48th  parallel. 

There  are  two  heronries  of  this  species  within  a  few  miles  iA  St. 
John,  N.  H.,  where  one  hundred  to  two  hundred  pairs  l)ree(I  aiuui- 
ally.  They  are  in  groves  of  white  I)irch  about  a  mile  back  from 
the  river.  I  have  found  this  bird  also  in  the  heart  of  the  wilderness 
districts  fishing  in  the  smaller  streams  and  along  the  margins  of  the 
rivers. 


Note.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  IJi.rr.  HrcuoN'  (Ardca  cinerca)  — 
the  "Common  Heron"  of  Kuropean  books  —  have  been  taken  in 
.southern  Greenland. 
vol,.  11.  —  6 


82 


WADING  BIRDS. 


BIS! 


WARD'S  HERON. 
Ardea  vvardi. 

Char.  Similar  to  the  Great  Blue  Heron,  but  larger  and  of  paler 
tint ;  under  parts  white,  narrowly  streaked  with  black ;  plumes  silvery 
gray;  legs  and  feet  olive.     Length  48  to  54  inches. 

jVi'st.  With  a  community  in  a  swampy  grove  ;  placed  on  a  high  branch 
of  a  tall  mangrove;  made  of  twigs  and  lined  with  fresh  green  twigs. 

^Sg^-    3~4>  bluish  green;  2.65  X  1.85. 

This  species  was  first  described  by  Mr.  Ridgway,  from  specimens 
taken  by  .Mr.  Charles  W.  Ward  in  1881. 

There  has  been  considerable  discussion  concerning  the  status  of 
these  large  Herons,  some  authorities  expressing  the  opinion  that 
both  Ward's  Heron  and  the  Great  White  Heron  are  but  geogra- 
phical races  of  the  Great  Blue  Heron  ;  but  the  weight  of  opinion  is 
in  favor  of  considering  the  three  as  distinct  species. 

Ward's  Heron  is  said  to  be  dichromatic,  —  having  a  dark  and 
light  phase  of  plumage;  the  light-colored  birds  being  indistinguish- 
able from  occidental  is. 

In  habits  the  present  species  does  not  differ  from  the  Great  Blue 
Heron  ;  but  Ward's  Heron  has  been  found  in  Florida  only. 


GREAT  WHITE  HERON. 


1 11 


\\-- 


florida  heron.   wurdeman's  heron. 
Ardiia  occidentams. 

Char.  White  f^hnse.  Plumage  white  ;  crest  with  two  long  narrow 
plumes,  and  plumes  droop  over  the  breast  and  wings  also;  bill  yellow  ; 
legs  yellow  and  olive,  feet  brown.  Blue  f^liasc.  Similar  to  Iwrodias,  but 
larger  and  lighter  in  color, —  the  head  and  crest  white,  and  the  under  parts 
with  less  black  ;  legs  and  feet  yellowish  olive.     Length  45  to  54  inches. 

A't-st.  With  a  community  ;  placed  usually  on  a  low  branch  of  a  man- 
grove, sometimes  on  a  high  branch  ;  a  jjlatform  of  dry  twigs. 

Eggs.     3-4  ;  bluish  green;  size  variable,  average  about  2.60  X  r.85. 

This  is  doubtless  the  "  (ireat  White  Crane"  mentioned  by 
Nuttall  as  found  by  Audubon  in  Florida.  The  description  was  not 
published  until  1835,  after  Nuttall's  work  had  been  issued. 

In  1859  Spencer  Baird  described  the  blue-colored  bird  as  a  dis- 


GREAT  WHITE  HERDN.  83 

tinct  species,  which  he  nameo  //.  wHrdcmanni ;  and  in  the  "  Key," 
issued  in  1872,  Coues  also  gave  7t'«/v/47«tf//«/ specific  rank.  In  the 
"  History  of  North  American  IJirds,"  issued  in  1884,  for  wiiich  work 
liaird  and  Ridgway  contributed  the  technical  matter,  wurdcmaiih  ' 
was  relegated  to  the  synonymy  of  occidcntalis ;  and  to  the  opinion 
thus  emphasized,  that  the  blue  color  merely  represents  a  dichroma- 
tic phase  of  the  White  Heron,  Coues  added  the  weight  of  his  au- 
thority in  the  1887  edition  of  the  "Key."  Ridgway,  however, 
in  his  "Manual,"  also  published  in  1887,  returned  to  Baird's  first 
decision,  and  gave  ixjurdeiuanni  specific  rank ;  but  the  A.  O.  U. 
still  retain  it  on  their  "hypothetical  list,"  adding  in  a  note  that  it 
is  believed  to  be  the  colored  phase  of  occidentalis  or  an  abnormal 
specimen  of  uardi.  This  last  suggestion  has  been  made  by  sev- 
eral writers  as  a  possible  solution  of  the  problem  which  tiiese 
birds  offer,  while  others  have  contended  that  both  blue  and  white 
specimens,  as  well  as  those  referred  to  wardi,  are  but  variations  of 
the  Great  Blue  Heron.  I  have  treated  the  blue  bird  as  a  phase  of 
the  present  species  partly  because  this  seemed  the  most  conve- 
nient pigeon-hole  in  which  to  place  the  fact  of  its  existence,  but 
more  especially  because  I  think  this  is  where  it  will  finally  rest. 

The  difficulty  in  reaching  a  decisive  solution  of  this  problem  lies 
chiefly  in  the  fact  that  very  little  reliable  evidence  has  been  ob- 
tained. The  birds  are  found  only  in  an  out-of-the-way  corner  of 
southwestern  Florida  and  in  Jamaica,  and  even  in  these  localities 
are  not  common,  —  indeed,  blue-colored  specimens  are  quite  rare. 
And  the  problem  is  likely  to  remain  unsolved  for  many  a  year  to 
come,  if  not  forever;  for  the  plume-hunters  have  discovered  the 
haunts  of  the  White  Herons,  and  are  gathering  them  in,  — shooting 
the  birds,  cutting  off  their  plumes,  and  throwing  the  carcases  to 
the  \'ultures,  —  in  an  effort  to  meet  the  demands  of  fashion. 

In  habits  the  White  Heron  does  not  differ  materially  from  its 
more  common  congeners.  It  is  a  little  less  inclined  for  companion- 
ship, and  is  somewhat  fiercer. 

Examples  of  this  species  have  been  taken  in  Indiana  and  Illinois, 
but  these  were  probably  accidental  wanderers. 


84 


WADING   BIRDS. 


AMERICAN  EGRET. 

Akuka  K(;i<E'nA. 

Char.  Plumage  white  ;  no  crest ;  long  silky  plume-feathers,  from  the 
back,  fall  over  the  wings  and  tail;  bill  yellow;  legs  and  feet  black. 
Length  about  38  inches. 

A'csf.  With  a  community  amid  a  swamp  or  on  the  border  of  a  lake  ; 
placed  on  a  high  branch  of  a  cyi)rcss  or  mangrove  tree,  sometimes  on  a 
low  bush  close  to  the  water ;  made  ol  twigs. 

/\i,%'s.     2-5  ;  bluish  green  ;  size  variable,  average  2.30  X  i-5o. 

This  tall  and  elegant  Heron  is  in  America  chiefly  confined 
to  the  warmer  and  more  temperate  regions.  From  (iiiiana, 
and  even  far  beyond  the  etpiator  in  South  America,  it  is  seen 
to  reside  as  far  to  the  north  as  the  State  of  New  York.  In  the 
old  continent  the  very  nearly  allied  A.  alba  is  met  with  on 
the  borders  of  the  Caspian  and  Black  Seas,  on  the  shores  of 
the  Irtish  and  the  lakes  of  Tartary,  even  as  far  as  the  53d 
l)arallel ;  and  a  straggler  is  now  and  then  met  with  in  Great 
liritain.  Towards  the  close  of  February  our  species  is  seen 
to  arrive  in  Georgia  from  its  warmer  hibernal  resorts.  At  all 
times  it  appears  to  have  a  predilection  for  swamps,  rice-fields, 
and  the  low,  marshy  shores  of  rivers  and  lagoons,  where  from 
its  size  and  color  it  becomes  conspicuous  at  a  distance,  yet 
from  its  vigilance  and  timidity  rarely  allows  of  an  approach 
within  gunshot.  It  is  known  to  breed  in  several  of  the 
great  cedar-swamps  in  the  lower  maritime  parts  of  New 
Jersey.  Like  most  of  the  tribe,  it  associates  in  numbers  at 
the  eyries,  and  the  structure  and  materials  of  the  nest  are 
entirely  similar  to  those  of  the  Snowy  Heron.  The  eggs, 
about  four,  are  of  a  pale  blue  color.  In  July  and  August,  the 
young  are  seen  abroad  in  the  neighboring  meadows  and 
marshes  in  flocks  of  twenty  or  thirty  together.  It  is  par- 
ticularly frequent  in  the  large  and  deep  tide  ditches  in  the 
vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  Its  food,  as  usual,  consists  of  frogs, 
small  fish,  lizards,  mice,  and  moles,  insects,  small  water-snakes, 
and  at  times  the  seeds  of  the  pond-lilies. 


I'  > 


AMERICAN'   LGRET.  85 

This  K^n-et  does  not  occur  re-uhirly  near  the  Athmtic  coast  north 
of  New  Jersey,  but  it  is  a  rather  common  visitor  to  Ohio  and 
a  small  number  of  the  birds  are  seen  everv  vear  in  the  southern 
portions  of  Ontario  and  Illinois.  Strag-Iers  are  found  occasionally 
in  New  I'.n.-land,  and  a  few  have  been  met  with  on  the  JJay  of 
b  undy  and  the  (iulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 

The  food  of  this  bird  consists  chiefly  of  small  fish,  fro-s.  lizards 
and  such;  but  it  refuses  nothin;,^  eatable  that  comes  within  its  reach' 
and  IS  expert  at  catching  mice  and  insects.  Although  shy  when  in 
a  wild  state,  It  is  easily  reconciled  to  captivitv,  savs  Dr.  Brewer  • 
and  Its  elegant  plumage  and  graceful  carriage  combine  to  make  it 
an  attractive  ornament  to  courtvard  or  garden. 

Unfortunately,  and  to  man'.s  or  woman's,  discredit,  very  few  of 
he.se  birds  are  now  to  be  .seen,  -  they  have  been  slaughtered  for 
heir  plumes.  Mr.  W.  K.  D.  Scott,  who  is  familiar  with  the 
heronries  of  Florida,  tells  us  of  one  of  these  breeding-grounds, 
where  "thousands"  were  nesting  six  years  before,  but  he  found 
It  entirely  deserted  in  1HS7.  He  saw  onlv  two  or  three  fright- 
ened birds;  the  "thousands"  had  been 'exterminated  by  "the 
plume-hunters.  •' 


i!!» 


li 


ii 


SNOWY    hi: RON. 

LITTLE    WHITE    ECRET.      SMALI     WHITE    HERON. 
ArI )F'..\    C.WniDISSI.MA. 

Thar.  Plumac;e  jMirc  \vliitc ;  crest  long,  with  ininierous  elongated 
hair-like  plumes  extciuiing  (hnvii  the  back  of  the  neck  ;  jihimes  on  the 
breast  and  back  loni;  and  hair-like,  those  of  the  back  reaching  to  the  end 
of  the  tail  or  beyond,  and  recurved  at  the  tips.  (These  jilumcs  are  worn 
only  during  the  nesting  season,  and  arc  not  seen  on  young  birds  )  liill 
black,  yellow  at  the  base  ;  legs  black,  feet  yellow.  I.engtii  20  to  27 
inches. 

Ars/.  With  a  cotnmunitv  ;  placed  usually  on  a  low  cedar  or  willow, — 
a  mere  jilatforni  of  div  twigs. 

^^^(.'.f.     2-5  (nsu.illv  4) ;  greenish  blue  :  1.85  X  1.25. 

This  elegant  Heron,  so  nearly  related  to  the  little  Egret  of 
Europe,  inhabits  the  marshes  and  swamps  of  the  sea-coast 
nearly  from  the  isthmus  of  Darien  to  the  estuary  of  the  St. 
Lawrence,  generally  omitting,  however,  the  maritime  range  of 


:  I 


\\ 


SXOWV   HERON. 


87 


I 


! 


the  central  parts  of  New  Mnglantl.  It  arrives  in  the  I'nited 
States  from  the  Ssxith  early  in  April,  ami  passing  inland,  at 
length  i)rocee(ls  up  the  valley  of  the  Mississi|)pi,  antl  even 
ascends  t'ae  borders  of  the  Arkansas,  thus  jiursuing  an  extensive 
inland  route  to  the  final  destination  in  the  wilds  of  Canada. 
It  departs  from  the  Middle  States,  towards  its  hibernal  desti- 
nation in  the  South,  in  the  course  of  the  month  of  October. 

Like  most  of  the  summer  visitors  of  this  family,  the  Snowy 
Heron  confines  its  residence  to  the  salt-marshes,  where  its  bril- 
liant whiteness  renders  it  a  conspicuous  object  at  a  distance.  Its 
food,  as  usual,  consists  of  small  crabs,  worms,  snails,  frogs,  and 
lizards,  to  which  fare  it  also  adds  at  times  the  seeds  of  the  pond- 
lilies  and  other  acpiatic  plants.  About  the  middle  of  May  nest- 
building  commences  ;  and  Wilson  describes  one  of  these  heron- 
ries situated  in  a  se(|uestered  clump  of  red  cedars,  at  Summer's 
IJeach,  on  the  coast  of  Cape  May.  The  s])ot  chosen,  with  the 
usual  sagacity  of  the  tribe,  was  separated  on  the  land  side  by 
a  fresh-water  pond,  and  sheltered  from  the  view  of  the  .Atlantic 
by  ranges  of  sand-hills.  The  cedars,  though  low,  were  so 
densely  crowded  together  as  scarcely  to  jiermit  a  passage 
through  them.  Some  of  the  trees  contained  three  or  four  nests 
in  each,  constructed  wholly  of  sticks.  The  eggs,  about  three 
in  number,  were  of  a  pale  greenish-blue  color,  and  measured 
one  inch  and  three  quarters  in  length.  On  approaching  the 
premises,  the  birds  silently  rose  in  great  numbers  ;  anil  alighting 
on  the  tops  of  the  neighboring  trees,  they  ai)peared  to  watch 
the  result  of  the  intruding  visit  in  silent  anxiety.  Assembled 
with  them  were  numbers  of  the  Night  Herons,  and  two  or  three 
of  the  purple-headed  species.  (Ireat  (luantities  of  egg-shells 
lay  scattered  under  the  trees,  occasioned  by  the  de]>redati()ns 
of  the  Crows  who  were  hovering  in  the  vic'uity.  ^^■herever  the 
Snowy  Herons  hapi)en  to  wander  through  the  marshes,  or 
along  the  borders  of  the  rivers  and  inlets,  they  regularly  return 
in  the  evening  to  their  favorite  roost  in  the  cedars  of  the 
beach. 

The  yoimg,  of  both  this  and  the  ])rece(ling  si)ecies,  are 
generally  fat,  and   esteemed  by  some  as  palatable   food. 


8S 


WAUING   IHRDS. 


Tlic  Snowy  Heron  occurs  rcj^ularly,  in  summer,  from  the  Gulf 
States  to  Lonj;  Island.  It  is  occasionally  seen  also  alonu;  the 
Atlantic  coast  as  far  as  Nova  Scotia,  and  in  the  interior  has  been 
taken  in  Ohio  and  Ontario. 

One  writer  has  calleil  tiiis  species  a  scraper,  or  raker,  because  it 
uses  its  le^^s  and  claws  to  start  Ironi  their  hidinj^-places  the  animals 
it  desires  to  secure  for  food.  In  this  movement  it  is  said  to  sur- 
l)ass  all  other  species  in  adroitness  and  rapidity,  usini;  the  feet  so 
rapidly  as  to  cause  the  whole  body  to  ([uiver.  The  scrapinj,'  is  done 
.sometimes  in  water  .so  deep  that  it  reaches  to  the  bird's  belly. 

Our  bird  wears  the  most  beautiful  i)lumes  of  all  the  Herons,  and 
in  conse(|uence  has  been  nearly  exterminated  by  the  plume-hunters. 
Instead  of  the  tliou.sands  that  ^Mthered  at  their  heronries  a  few 
years  ago,  only  a  few  scattered  birds  can  now  be  found. 


w 


RKDDISH    Kdur/r. 

I'K.ALF.'.S    KCKKT. 

.\ki)i..\  uri  A. 

CiiAU.  Colored /'/idst  (kiieral  pluni.ige  grayisli  bine,  darker  on  the 
hack,  ii.der  helow;  head  and  neck  with  long,  narrow  feathers, —  longest 
on  the  hwck  of  the  neck  and  the  lower  part  of  the  breast,  —  of  rich  re<l- 
dish  brown,  sometimes  tinged  with  pnr])lc ;  scapnlar  plumes  and  train 
—  tiie  latter  extending  beyond  the  tail  — grayish  bine,  tinged  with  brown 
towards  the  ends;  bill  pink,  tipped  with  black;  legs  blue,  claws  black. 

White  f^hase  Plumage  entirely  white  ;  bill  pink,  tipped  with  black; 
legs  and  feet  olive,  soles  yellow.     Length  about  30  inches. 

Young  of  both  i)hases  simdar  to  the  adult,  but  lacking  the  nuptial 
plumes  Sometimes  the  blue  and  white  colors  are  displayed  by  the  same 
specimen   in  a  "  pied  "  form. 

Xest.  With  a  community  close  by  the  sea-shoie  ;  placed  on  a  low 
tree  or  bush,  sometimes  on  the  ground,  —  a  platform  of  dry  twigs. 

Avi.'-j.  2-6  (usually  3);  pale  blue  tinged  with  green;  size  variable, 
average  about   1  .yo  X  1.45. 

This  is  another  of  those  dichromatic  species  that  have  caused 
confusion  and  controversy,  and  given  to  both  systematists  and 
book-makers  a  deal  of  trouble. 

The  white  phase  has  in  this  instance  been  made  to  play  the 
shuttlecock;  and  appearing  first  as  a  distinct  species,  under  the 
name  of  ••  Peale's  ICgret,"'  it  has  been  tossed  hither  and  yon  by  the 
numerous  writers  who  have  laid  claim  to  a  solution  of  the  problem 
which  these  varied  phases  of  plumage  present.  At  one  time  made 
out  to  be  the  young  of  A.  nifa.  later  set  up  as  a  white  phase  of 
this  species,    again    seized  upon  by    the   hungry  variety-makers 


)\V 


c, 


e 


KLDDISII    IIEKOX. 


89 


catjur  to  convert  it  into  a  ;je();;rai)liiral  race,  it  was  at  last.  tI)rouj;ii 
tiic  conscrv.itism  of  tlic  A.  O.  l'.,  laid  to  rest  in  tiiat  relui;e  tor 
(|uestional»ie  ca.ses,  the  "  liypotlittical  list,"  tliere  to  await  the 
j^atiieriiii;  of  more  decisive  data. 

In  tilt'  nie.in  time,  as  it  i)ec()mes  necessary  for  me  to  (iLscril)e  its 
cli.iracteristics,  I  treat  tile  wliile  l)ird  as  an  in<li\idii.U  v.irialinii  or 
pliase  of  tlie  present  species,  l)ecausc  I  tiiink  tliis  will  be  its  ulti- 
mate destinv.  l>ut  these  white  specimens  have  aiwavs  been  lom- 
paratively  rare,  in  a  tlock  of  thirty  birds  not  more  than  four  or  live 
will  wear  white  plumes,  -  and  the  plume-hunters  may  exterminate 
them  i)efore  any  naturalist  can  have  any  i)pportuuily  to  make 
further  study  of  liieir  origin.  Indeed,  as  1  write,  tlie  remnant  may 
be  yielding  their  plumes  to  the  insatiable  crew,  for  the  heronries  of 
the  South  have  been  almost  wijied  out  (lurinjf  the  last  few  years. 

Nuttall  makes  no  mention  of  the  Reddish  Kyret,  though  he  docs 
give  a  sliort  note  telling  of  the  discovery  of /t'rf/<7,  —  the  white 
pii.ise  Our  bird  is  not  well  known  even  at  this  day,  few  oI)srrvers 
having  met  with  it.  It  occurs  regularly  within  the  L'nited  .States 
only  in  I'lorida  and  along  the  dulf  loast,  though  examples  occa- 
sionally wander  up  the  .Mississippi  valley  as  far  as  Illinois 

These  birds  are  said  to  begin  breeding  in  .March,  and  eggs  have 
been  taken  through  A])ril.  The  young  are  nearly  naked  when 
hatched,  wearing  nothing  but  a  few  patches  of  down  :  but  it  is  a 
dis])uted  point  whether  all  the  young  are  white,  or  a  part  of  them 
are  blue,  .\udubon  says  that  they  are  fed  by  regurgitation,  grow 
fast,  and  soon  become  noisy.  They  leave  the  nest  when  about  seven 
weeks  old,  fullv  tledged  and  able  to  tlv. 

The  favorite  feeding-ground  of  the.se  Egrets  is  a  mud  flat  over 
which  the  outgoing  tide  leaves  but  about  six  to  ten  inch,s  of  water. 
In  this  they  stand,  and  silently  and  motionless  watch  for  their  jney, 
or  using  their  feet  among  the  water-i)lants,  drive  the  tish — their 
principal  food  —  from  under  cover.  If  they  miss  the  object  at 
their  first  dart,  they  give  chase;  and  though  appearing  so  clumsy 
and  awkward  as  to  present  a  ridiculous  figure  while  in  pursuit  of 
a  scudding  fish,  are  much  more  expert  at  this  chasing  than  are  any 
others  of  their  kin.  The  red-and-blue  specimens  and  the  white 
always  gather  in  one  flock,  and  it  has  been  remarked  that  tiiev 
quarrel  with  each  other  persistently,  —  white  against  white,  as  well 
as  white  against  red  :  but  neither  white  nor  red  birds  have  been 
observed  to  attack  any  otlicr  species. 

The  flight  of  this  si)ecies  is  strong  and  graceful,  and  when  two 
males  combat  in  mid-air  their  evolutions  are  performed  with  rare 
skill.  Like  many  other  birds.  -  aye,  like  most  birds,  —  this  I-^gret 
is  less  shy  during  the  breeding-season  than  at  other  times.  Some 
observers  deny  them  all  credit  for  shyness,  butadmit  that  they  seem 


90 


WADING  HIKUS. 


extrc'tnt'Iy  fearless  when  mate  and  young  (Icmand  tlicir  protection. 
Said  Audubon,  writing  of  the  fearlessness  of  the  Fferons  during 
this  period,  •'  As  the  strenjjlh  of  their  attachment  toward  their 
mates  or  progeny  increases  through  the  process  of  time,  as  is  the 
case  with  the  better  part  of  our  own  s|)ecies.  lovers  and  parents 
perform  acts  of  lieroism  which  individuals  iiaving  no  such  attach- 
ment to  each  other  would  never  dare  to  contemplate"  He  was  of 
the  opinion  that  under  the  intiuence  of  affection  the  thoui^hts  of 
birds  change ;  tliey  become  careless  of  themselves,  and  thus  appear 
fearless  and  indifferent  to  danger.  i\(»  one  can  study  birds  in 
the  tield  without  becoming  convinced  that  these  creatures  have 
tlioughts,  and  that  they  are  capable  of  heroic  devotion.  Few  men 
will  tight  more  valiantly  for  home  and  young  than  will  many  of 
these  timid  and  gentle  birds. 


yell()\v-(:r()wn1':d  night  hi:ron. 

N\  t'lia  )RAX   VK  )1,ACKUS. 

Char.  General  ])luni.if;c  ashy  blue,  darker  on  wings  and  tail,  i)aler 
bcniatli ;  fcati»crs  of  upper  parts  with  medial  stripe  of  black  ;  dorsal 
plmiK's  narrow  and  extremely  long,  reaching  beyond  the  tail  ;  crown, 
patch  on  side  of  head,  and  long  narrow  plumes  creamy  yellow;  bill  stout 
and  black,  sometimes  tinged  in  patches  with  greenish  yellow;  legs  yellow- 
ish green.  Voung  grayish  brown,  feathers  of  upper  parts  with  medial 
stripe  of  pale  buff.     Length  22  to  28  inches. 

Xest.  In  a  conununity  usually  near  a  stream ;  placed  on  a  lower  branch 
of  a  tree,  —  a  mere  iilalform  of  dry  twigs. 

J'\KK^-  3-6  (usually  4) ;  pale  and  dull  blue,  slightly  tinged  with  green; 
2.00  X  1.45. 

This  species  has  been  frequently  named  the  White-crowned 
Night  Heron  by  authors  because  the  yellow  color  of  the  head  and 
plumes  fades  very  soon  after  death,  and  finally  the  feathers  be- 
come entirely  white.  It  is  found  in  the  warmer  portions  of  this 
Eastern  I'rovince,  breeding  in  the  Carolinas  and  the  Ohio  valley, 
and  south  to  the  Gulf  States.  It  is  found  also  in  South  America. 
Occasionallv  examples  are  met  with  to  the  northward  of  the  usual 
habitat,  two  having  been  captured  in  Massachusetts. 

In  habits,  as  in  appearance,  this  bird  differs  littl?  from  its  North- 
ern congener,  though  it  is  less  tamable  and  not  so  easily  domesti- 
cated ;  rebelling  to  the  end  against  captivity,  and  yearning  ever 
for  a  return  to  the  freedom  of  a  wild  life.  Sometimes  these  birds 
search  for  food  during  the  daytime,  but  in  general  they  are  strictly 
nocturnal,  and  feed  as  well  as  migrate  at  night.  Their  diet  consists 
chieHy  of  small  reptiles  and  young  birds. 


BLACK-CROWN KD  NIC.HT   HKRON. 

SQUAWK.    QUA  lURD. 
NyCIICOKAX    N\C  riCORAX    N.KVIUS. 

Char.  Top  of  heid  and  back  greenish  black  ;  foiehcad,  sides  of  head, 
and  throat  white  ;  wings  and  sides  of  neck  bluish  gray  ;  no  pinnies  except- 
ing two  long  narrow  wliite  feathers  at  back  of  head ;  lower  parts  white 
tinged  with  pale  creamy  yellow.  Young:  above,  grayish  brown  ;  beneath, 
dull  white,  streaked  with  brownish.  Hody  stout;  bill  thick  and  black; 
legs  short  and  yellow.     Length  2-',  to  26  inches. 

A'est.  Tn  a  community  situated  near  the  bank  of  a  stream  ;  placed  on 
an  upper  branch  of  a  tall  tree.  —  sometimes  placed  on  the  ground  in  a 
swamp  ;  a  simple  platform  of  dry  twigs. 

Exgs.     4-6;  pale  green  tinged  with  blue  ;  2.00  X  150. 

The  Great  Night  Heron  of  America  extends  its  migrations 
probably  to  the  northern  and  eastern  extremities  of  the  United 


i 


T 


92 


WADING    BIRDS. 


P 


States,  but  is  wholly  unknown  in  the  high  boreal  regions  of 
the  continent.  In  the  winter  it  proceeds  as  tar  south  as  the 
tropics,  having  been  seen  in  the  marshes  (jf  Cayenne,  and  their 
breeding  stations  are  known  to  extend  from  New  (Jrleans  U) 
Massachusetts.  It  arrives  in  I'ennsylvania  early  in  the  month 
of  April,  and  soon  takes  possession  of  its  ancient  nurseries, 
which  are  usually  (in  the  Middle  and  Southerii  States)  the 
most  solitary  and  deeply  shaded  part  of  a  cetlar-swamj),  or 
some  inundated  and  almost  inaccessible  grove  of  swamp-oaks. 
In  these  places,  or  some  contiguous  part  of  the  forest,  near  a 
pond  or  stream,  the  timorous  and  watchful  flock  pass  away  the 
day  until  the  commencement  of  twilight,  when  the  calls  of 
hunger  and  the  coolness  of  evening  arouse  the  dozing  throng 
into  life  and  activity.  At  this  time,  high  in  the  air,  the  parent 
birds  are  seen  sallying  forth  towards  the  neighboring  marshes 
and  strand  of  the  sea  in  quest  of  food  for  themselves  and 
their  young ;  as  they  thus  proceed  in  a  marshalled  rank  at 
intervals  they  utter  a  sort  of  recognition  call,  like  the  guttural 
sound  of  the  syllable  Vviv///,  uttered  in  so  hollow  and  sepulchral 
a  tone  as  almost  to  resemble  the  retchings  of  a  vomiting  person. 
These  venerable  eyries  of  the  Kwah  liirds  have  been  occupied 
from  the  remotest  period  of  time  by  about  eighty  to  a  hundred 
pai's.  \Vhen  their  ancient  trees  were  levelled  by  the  axe,  they 
have  been  known  to  remove  merely  to  some  other  quarter  of 
the  same  swamp  ;  and  it  is  only  when  they  have  been  long 
teased  and  plundered  that  they  are  ever  known  to  abandon 
their  ancient  stations.  Their  greatest  natural  enemy  is  the 
Crow ;  and  according  to  the  relation  of  Wilson,  one  <jf  these 
heronries,  near  Thompson's  Point,  on  the  banks  of  the  Dela- 
ware, was  at  length  entirely  abandoned  through  the  persecu- 
tion of  these  sable  enemies.  Several  breeding-haunts  of  the 
Kwah  Birds  occur  among  the  red-cedar  groves  on  the  sea- 
beach  of  Cape  May  ;  in  these  places  they  also  admit  the  associa- 
tion of  the  Little  Kgret,  the  Creen  Bittern,  and  the  Hlue  Heron. 
In  a  very  secluded  and  marshy  island  in  Fresh  Pond,  near  Bos- 
con,  there  likewise  exists  one  of  these  ancient  heronries  ;  and 
though  the  birds  have  been  frequently  robbed  of  their  eggs  in 


I 


HLACK-CROWXED   xMGllT    HERON. 


93 


great  nnmhers  by  mischievous  boys  they  still  lav  again  imme- 
diately alter,  and  usually  succeed  in  raising  a  sufficient  brood. 
J  he  nests,  always  in  trees,  are  composed  of  twigs  shghtly  inter- 
laced, more  shallow  and  slovenly  than  those  of  the  Crow;  and 
though  often  one,  sometimes  as  many  as  two  or  three  nests  are 
bmlt  m  the  same  tree.      The  eggs,  about  four,  are  as  large  as 
those  of  the  common  hen,  an<l  of  a  pale  greenish  blue  color. 
Ihe  marsh   is   usually  whitened    by  the  excrements  of  these 
buds;  and  the  fragments  of  broken  egg-shells,  old  nests,  an<l 
small  fish  which  they  have  dropped  while  feeding  their  voung 
give    a    characteristic    i)icture   of  the   slovenly,  indolent,  and 
voracious  character  of  the  occupants  of  these  eyries. 

On  entering  these  dark  and  secluded  retreats  of  the  Night 
Her<Mi,  the  ear  is  assailed  by  the  confused  and  choking  noise 
littered  by  the  old  and  young,  whi<h,  however,  instantly  ceases 
the  moment  the  intruder  is  observed  ;  and  the  whole  thron<r 
lately  so  clamorous,  rise  into  the  air  in  silence,  and  fly  to  tlK- 
tops  of  the  trees  in  some  other  part  of  the  wood,  while  parties 
of  the  old  birds,  of  from  eight  to  ten,  make  occasional  recon- 
noitring circuits  over  the  spot,  as  if  to  observe  what  may  be 
going  on  in  their  surprised  domicile. 

However  deficient  these  nocturnal  l)irds  mav  be  in  vision 
by  day.  their  faculty  of  hearing  is  so  acute  that  it  is  almost 
impossible,  with  every  precaution,  to  penetrate  near  their  resi- 
dence without  being  discovered.     As  soon  as   the  young  are 
able  to   fly,   an.l   long  before   they  are  capable   of  sustained 
flight,  they  climb  to  the  highest  part  of  the  trees  near  their 
nests,  as  if  to  solicit  the  attention  and  watch  the  return  and 
protection  of  their  ofilcious  parents;  an,l  yet.  with  every  pre- 
caution, the  young  fall  victims  to  the  prowling  Hawks,  who 
-ovenng  round,  make  an  occasional  sweep  among  their  tim- 
orous ranks. 

About  the  middle  of  October  the  Qua  Birds  begin  to  retire 
from  this  part  of  Massachusetts  towards  their  southern  winter 
quarters  though  a  few  of  the  young  binls  still  linger  occasion- 
ally to  the  29th  or  30th  of  that  month.  Their  foo.i  consists 
chiefly  of  small   fish,  which   they  collect    in  the   twilight    or 


<■ 


T 


94 


WADING   BIRDS. 


Ml 


Hi 


1^ 


towards  night,  and  in  the  wide  gullet  which  commences  at  the 
immediate  base  of  the  bill  they  probably  carry  a  siqiply  for  the 
use  of  their  young. 

In  the  month  of  October  I  obtained  two  specimens  of  the 
young  Night  Heron  in  their  second  jjlumage  ;  these  were  so 
extremely  fat  that  the  stomach  was  cjuite  buried  in  cakes  of  it 
like  tallow.  Their  food  had  been  Ulva  latissiina,  small  fish, 
grasshoppers,  and  a  few  coleopterous  insects ;  so  that  at  this 
cool  season  of  the  year  these  birds  had  ventured  out  to  hunt 
their  fare  through  the  marsh  by  day,  as  well  as  evening.  In 
the  st'jnj:i'h  of  one  of  these  birds,  towards  its  upper  orifice, 
were  parasitic  worms  like  tiienia.  About  the  time  of  their 
departure  the  young,  in  their  plumbeous  dress,  associate 
together  early  in  the  morning,  and  proceed  in  flocks,  either 
wholly  by  themselves,  or  merely  conducted  by  one  or  two  old 
birds  in  a  company. 

I  have  visited  two  heronries  of  this  species  in  northern  New 
Hiur.swick,  on  streams  emptying  into  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  at 
about  latitude  47°.  It  is  common  in  tlie  Muskoka district  of  Ontario, 
and  Mr.  Gunn  reports  it  numerous  at  Shoal  Lake  in  Manitoba. 
He  found  the  nests  placed  on  tiie  ground  among  the  reeds. 

The  l)ird  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  New  England,  though 
extremely  local  in  its  distribution.  The  heronry  at  F'resh  Pond, 
Cambridge,  which  was  celebrated  in  former  years,  has  been  deserted 
for  some  time. 


LITII-K    HLUK    HKRON. 

BI.UK    EGRF/r. 
ArDKA    Id.Rfl.KA. 

Char.  General  i)liiniage  chulv  ashy  blue  :  head  and  neck  rich  maroon  ; 
plumes  on  back  of  head,  breast,  atul  back,  the  last  extending  over  and 
beyond  the  tail  ;  bill  slender,  curved  at  the  point,  and  of  blue  color  shad- 
ing to  black  at  the  tij);  legs  and  feet  black;  eyes  yellow.  Sometimes  the 
plumage  is  "pied,"  —  of  blue  an''  white,  —  and  occasionally  it  is  almost 
entirely  white,  with  some  traces  of  blue.  The  young  are  usually  white, 
spotted  more  or  less  with  blue.     Length  22  to  26  inches. 

Xest.  Usually  in  a  large  community  or  "heronry;"  placed  on  a  top 
i>>  a  ich  of  a  tree  or  bush  ;  made  of  twigs  loosely  laid. 

E,i:i:;s.     2-5;  bluish  green  :  si/c  vari.ible,  averaging  about  1.75  X  1.30. 


LllTLE   BLUE   HERON. 


95 


The  Blue  Heron  may  be  considereil  almost  a  restricted 
native  of  the  warmer  climates  of  the  United  States,  from 
whence  it  migrates  at  the  approach  of  winter  into  the  tropical 
parts  of  the  continent,  being  found  in  Cayenne,  Me.v"  o,  and 
the  island  of  Jamaica.  'I'he  muddy  shores  of  the  Mississippi 
from  Natchez  downward  are  its  favorite  resort. 

In  the  course  of  the  spring,  however,  a  few  migrate  to  New 
Kngland,  restricting  their  visits,  like  many  other  of  the  tender 
species,  to  the  confines  of  the  ocean  and  its  adjoining  marshes, 
where  their  proper  food  of  reptiles,  worms,  and  insect  larvae 
abound.  They  also  often  visit  the  fresh-water  bogs  in  the 
vicinity  of  their  eyries,  and  move  about  actively,  sometimes 
making  a  run  at  their  \ncy.  Like  the  Snowy  Herons,  with 
which  they  sometimes  associate,  they  are  also,  when  the  occa- 
sion reijuircj,  very  silent,  intent,  and  watchful.  These  noc- 
turnal anil  indolent  birds  appear  tacitly  to  associate  and  breed 
often  in  the  same  swamps,  leading  towards  each  other,  no 
doubt,  a  very  harmless  and  independent  life.  I'atient  and 
timorous,  though  voracious  in  their  appetites,  their  defence 
consists  in  seclusion,  and  with  an  appropriate  instinct  they 
seek  out  the  wildest  and  most  insulated  retreats  in  nature. 
The  undrainable  morass  grown  up  with  a  gigantic  and  gloomy 
forest,  imjierviously  filled  with  tangled  shrubs  and  rank  herb- 
age, abounding  with  disgusting  reptiles,  sheltering  wild  beasts, 
and  denying  a  foot-hold  to  the  hunter,  are  among  the  chosen 
resorts  of  the  sagacious  Herons,  whose  uncouth  manners,  harsh 
voice,  rank  flesh,  and  gluttonous  appetite  allow  them  to  pass 
quietly  through  the  world  as  objects  at  once  contemptible  and 
useless ;  yet  the  part  which  they  perform  in  the  scale  of 
existence,  in  the  destruction  they  make  amongst  reptiles  and 
insects,  affords  no  inconsiderable  benefit  to  man. 

A  few  of  the  Blue  Herons,  for  common  safety,  breed  among 
the  Night  Herons,  the  Snowy  species,  and  the  (Ireen  Bittern, 
among  the  cedars  (or  Virginian  junipers)  on  the  sea-beach  of 
Cape  May. 

The  Blue  Egret  nests  regularly,  though  in  small  numbers,  as  far 
north  as  New  Jersey  anil   Illinois.     An  occasional  straggler  has 


T 


■■lilii 


96 


WADING   BIRDS. 


S  ?l 


been   taken   in    New   England,  and  in   18S4  one*  was  shot  near 
Halifax,  N.  S. 

Some  naturalists  place  this  among  the  dichromatic  species,  while 
others  consider  that  the  white  phase,  so  called,  is  seen  only  in 
young  birds,  —  that  all  the  young  are  white  or  pied. 


I 


LOUISIANA    HKRON. 

ArUKA    tricolor    RUriL'OLLIS. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  blue,  darker  on  head  and  neck  ;  crest  reddish 
purple,  excei)tini;  the  long  narrow  plume-fcatliers,  whicli  are  white; 
l)lumes  of  the  breast  mixed,  maroon  and  blue;  train  of  straiglit  hair-like 
Illumes  from  the  back  extending  beyond  the  tail,  of  light  drab  color, 
lighter  towards  the  tips  ;  imder  parts  white.     Length  24  to  27  inches. 

^Vfs/.  Usually  in  a  community  ;  placed  on  a  low  tree  or  bush  ;  made  of 
small  twigs. 

£^X^.     2-6;  blue  with  a  slight  tinge  of  green ;  1.75  X  1.35. 

This  richly  apparelled  bird,  .sometimes  called  the  "  Lady  of  the 
Waters,"  occurs  in  numbers  in  the  Carolinas  and  southward  to  the 
(iulf,  and  is  very  abundant  in  Central  America.  An  occasional 
straggler  has  been  found  as  far  north  as  New  Jersey  and  Indiana, 

Those  who  are  familiar  with  the  bird's  habits  say  that  it  is 
extremely  sociable,  and  is  usually  found  in  company  with  other 
species,  — the  White  Egret,  Ulue  Heron,  Night  Heron,  etc.  In  its 
movements  are  combined  rare  grace  and  dignity.  Even  when 
hunting  for  prey  it  di.splays  less  impetuosity  than  any  other  of  the 
group.  The  usual  feeding-place  is  a  sand-bar  or  shallow  pond,  and 
there  it  saunters  with  stately  tread,  or  stands  calmly  waiting  and 
watching.  If  a  coveted  leech  or  water-bug  halts  beyond  reaching 
distance,  the  Heron  stalks  upon  it  in  a  crouched  and  cat-like  atti- 
tude, and  then  strikes  quick  and  straight.  Tiie  flight  is  rather 
irregular,  but  is  swifter  than  that  of  any  other  Heron.  If  one  of 
a  flock  is  woimded,  its  companions  hover  about  it  with  cries  of 
sympathetic  interest. 


1 

I 


li 


GKEEN  HERON.  97 


(iRKLN     HKRON. 
Ardka    virescens. 

(  iiAK.  The  smallest  of  the  Heron  family,  excepting  the  Least  Bittern. 
Toj)  of  head  and  crest  dark  metallic  green  ;  rest  of  licad  and  neck  rich 
chestnut,  sometimes  with  a  tint  of  nuiroon ;  throat  with  aline  of  white 
with  dark  spots  ;  back  dark  ash,  mor,'  or  less  tinged  with  green;  wings 
and  tail  dark  green  ;  under  i)arts  brownish  ash.     Length  16  to  20  inches. 

A'(-sf.  On  the  border  of  a  swamp  or  near  the  margin  of  a  stream, 
placed  on  a  branch  of  tree  or  Inish  ;  mailc  of  small  twigs  loosely  laid. 

ExX-''-  3-(^>-  bright  blue  of  a  rather  pale  shade,  strongly  tinged  with 
green  ;   1.50  X  1.15- 

'Ihe  (Ireen  l>ittern,  known  in  many  parts  much  better  by  a 
contemptible  and  disgusting  name,  is  the  most  common  and 
famiHar  species  of  the  genus  in  the  L'nited  States.  Marly  in 
A])ril,  or  as  soon  as  the  marshes  are  so  far  thawed  as  to  afford 
these  birds  the  means  of  subsistence,  they  arrive  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  soon  after  are  seen  in  New  England,  but  are 
unknown  in  the  remote  and  colder  parts  of  Canada.  Many 
winter  in  the  swamps  of  the  Southern  States,  though  others 
retire  in  all  probability  to  the  warmer  regions  of  the  continent, 
as  they  arc  observed  at  that  season  in  the  large  islands  of  Hayti 
and  Jamaica. 

In  common  with  other  species,  whose  habits  are  principally 
nocturnal,  the  (Irecn  Hittern  seeks  out  the  gloomy  retreat  of 
the  woody  swamp,  the  undrainable  bog,  and  the  sedgy  marsh. 
It  is  also  a  common  hermit  on  the  inundated,  dark  willow  and 
alder  shaded  banks  of  sluggish  streams  and  brushy  ponds, 
where  it  not  only  often  associates  with  the  kindred  Kwa  Uirds 
and  Great  Herons,  but  frequently  with  the  more  petulant  herd 
of  chattering  IMackbirds.  When  surprised  or  alarmed,  it  rises 
in  a  hurried  manner,  uttering  a  hollow  guttural  scream  and  a 
'k'7C',  'k'7C',  '^'Vi',  but  does  not  tly  far,  being  very  sedentary  ;  and 
soon  alighting  on  some  stumji  or  tree,  looks  romid  with  an 
outstretched  neck,  and  balancing  itself  for  further  retreat, 
frequently  jets  its  tail.  It  sometimes  flies  high,  with  neck 
reclining  and  legs  extended,  flapping  its  wings  and  proceed- 

voL.  n.  —  7 


98 


NVADjNc;    BIRUS. 


M  ^ 


ing  with  considerable  expedition.  It  is  also  the  least  shy  of 
all  our  si)ecies,  as  well  as  the  must  numerous  and  widely  dis- 
persetl.  being  seen  far  inland,  even  on  the  banks  of  the  Mis- 
souri, nearly  to  the  River  I'latte,  and  frecjuent  near  all  the 
maritime  marshes,  and  near  ponds  and  streams  in  general.  It  is 
also  [)articularly  attracted  by  artificial  pontls  for  fish,  not  refrain- 
ing even  to  visit  gardens  and  domestic  premises  which  any 
prospect  of  fare  may  offer.  It  is  at  the  same  time  perhaps  as 
much  in  (piest  of  the  natural  enemy  of  the  fish,  the  frog,  as  of 
the  legitimate  tenants  of  the  pond.  These  bold  anil  intrusive 
\'isits  are  commonly  matle  early  in  the  uK^rning  or  towards 
twiligiit,  and  it  not  unfreiiuently,  when  pressed  by  hunger,  or 
after  ill-success,  turns  out  to  hunt  its  fare  by  day,  as  well  as 
dusk  ;  and  at  such  times  collects  various  larvic,  particularly 
those  of  the  dragon-fiy,  with  grasshoppers  and  different  kinds 
of  insects.  At  otlier  times  it  preys  upon  small  fish,  crabs,  and 
frogs,  for  which  it  often  lies  patiently  in  wait  till  they  reapi)ear 
from  their  hiding-places  in  the  water  or  mud,  and  on  being 
transfixed  and  caught,  —  an  operation  which  is  effected  with 
great  dexterity, —  they  are  commonly  beaten  to  death,  if  large, 
and  afterwards  swallowed  at  leisure. 

'i"he  Small  Uittern  in  the  Midille  States  usually  begins  to 
build  alwit  the  T5th  of  A])ril,  sometimes  in  solitary  pairs,  in 
dark  anfl  swampy  woods,  at  other  times  in  comjianies,  and  as 
already  lemarked,  by  similarity  of  taste  and  habit  frequently 
joins  the  heronries  of  the  larger  species  as  its  sort  of  humble 
dependant  and  watchful  defender  of  the  general  eyry.  The 
young,  as  usual,  slowly  acquire  the  full  use  of  their  limbs,  and 
remain  patiently  in  the  nest  until  able  to  fly. 

The  ("ireon  Heron  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  though  usually  rather  rare  as  far  north  as  the  MaritimH 
Provinces,  is  sometimes  quite  common  there.  It  is  common  also 
in  Ontario  and  abundant  in  Ohio,  and  occurs  westward  to  the 
Mississipj)!.  In  winter  the  major  portion  of  those  birds  retire  to 
the  West  Indies  and  northern  South  America,  though  a  few  remain 
in  the  Gulf  States. 


A.MFKICW   lilTTLRX. 


(K 


99 


ami: RICA \  mrriiRx. 

.STAKE    DKIVEK. 
HoTAlKlS    I,I;MI(;iN()su.S. 

ra.iKT  s,„«,  „„„,  l:;,  of^j '::,'"  1'"'  ,r'''!T' """  '"•"™  ^  >»" 

^<CV-     3-5;  iTmvnish  drab,  s.nnetin.cs  with  an  olive  tint;  ,,,.o  x  .  -,5 
The  Mittern  of  America,  thoi.gh  apparently  nowhere  nttn^er 
ous,  frotn  tts  retiring  habits,  ts  A.n.I   in  ahLst  ev^     "  ^f 
th."    continent    where    there   exist    extensive    marshes     elur 
mantnne    or   inlan.i,  up    to   the   -,Sth    .v.r.ii  1 

;;;.^. .......  a„/>j,,..u,::;.;:::^i;nr;i:',;:,,;;:;; 

Ml  ..>vl„ic,„  other  parts  ,t  is  ix-rn.an.ntlv  rc-si,ic„..     I,  i, 
-    I  ...  rovH,.  Sovorn  Kiver,  at  H,„iH„„  |,av,al,o„t  tin-  Ik!  , 
n...g  of    „„e,  nesting   i„  tl,o   swam|,s  amon^  the  se.L 
.ree,ls    also    ,„  several    parts  of  Massaclu.se.ts,  yo    t:  Ui  j 

'"  »■  -:.....,■  of  iloston  al«„t  the  tniddle  of  s^nnTr       ' 

n..r.n<.  the  day  the  Night  Hen,  as  it  is  here  called'  remain, 
h.dden  ,n  the  ree.l.,  an,l  sedge,  nn,l  rarely  comes  o  it  tihth 
ai.proaeh  of  night.     When  disturhed  i„  L  ret  eat       m.      r 

obtained  by  lying  i„  „,,  f„  the,,:  a' IV^'sa  h".::"' 'u:: 
cvenmg    towanis  the  salt-n,arshes,   in  a   particnl  r  ,• 

.n  quest  of  foo.l.  PartKular   direction. 

In  the  breeding-season  and  thronghont  a  .rre.t   n,r,     r., 
Slimmer  we  often  hear  the  l,„„l  l,  "  '    "  "' '''"-' 

-marshes  of  .ver,::;:j:irr::^;------^ 


Ml 


lOO 


WADING  BIRDS. 


h 


11 


^ii 


I 


M 


r 


times  even  during  the  day.  Instead  of  the  /v/w/,  or  hoomp, 
however  of  the  true  IJittern,  the  call  is  something  like  the 
uncouth  syllables  of  'piimp-aii-gah,  but  uttered  in  the  same 
low,  bellowing  tone. 

The  cry  of  the  luiropean  Bittern,  so  similar  to  that  of  our 
own  species,  is  thus  elegantly  described  by  (loldsmith  in  his 
"  Animated  Nature."  "  Those  who  have  walked  in  a  summer's 
evening  by  the  sedgy  sides  of  unfre(]uented  rivers  must 
remember  a  variety  of  notes  from  different  water-fowl,  —  the 
loud  scream  of  the  Wild  (loose,  the  croaking  of  the  Mallard,  the 
whining  of  the  ]-ai)wing,  and  the  tremulous  neighing  of  the  Jack- 
snipe  ;  but  of  all  these  sounds  there  is  none  so  dismally  hol- 
low as  the  booming  of  the  Bittern.  It  is  impossible  for  words 
to  give  those  who  have  not  heard  this  evening  call  an  adetpiate 
idea  of  its  solemnity.  It  is  like  the  interrupted  bellowing  of  a 
bull,  but  hollower  and  louder,  and  is  heard  at  a  mile's  dis- 
tance, as  if  issuing  from  some  formidable  being  that  rosideil  at 
the  bottom  of  the  waters.  This  is  the  Bittern,  whose  wind- 
pipe is  fitted  to  produce  the  sound  for  which  it  is  remarkable  ; 
the  lower  part  of  it,  dividing  iuto  the  lungs,  being  supplied 
with  a  thin  loose  membrane  that  can  be  filled  with  a  large 
body  of  air  and  exploded  at  pleasure.  These  bellowings  are 
chiefly  heard  from  the  beginning  of  spring  to  the  end  of 
autumn,  and  are  the  usual  calls  during  the  pairing  season." 

The  American  bird,  no  less  than  the  true  Bittern,  is  con- 
sidered by  many  as  excellent  food. 

The  Bittern  is  still  a  familiar  bird  throughout  temperate  North 
America,  breecling  from  the  Middle  States  nortlnvard ;  but,  like 
many  another  bird  whose  form  is  familiar,  the  Bittern's  habits  are 
known  only  to  the  few,  and  many  erroneous  opinions  of  its  charac- 
teristics have  l)een  current. 

The  "booming  of  the  Bittern  "  has  been  a  favorite  topic  of  con- 
troversy :  ])ut  i^-obalily  that  matter  has  been  finally  settled  by  an 
account  of  the  performance  contributed  to  "  The  Auk  "  for  Janu- 
ary, 1SS9.  by  Mr.  Bradford  Torrey. 

Mr.  Torrey  described  the  performer  as  first  filling  its  cro]5  with 
air,  opening  the  bill  and  shutting  it  with  a  click,  repeating  this 
several  times.     Then,  while  the  bill  is  kept  tightly  closed,  the  air 


J 


LKAST   lUriKKX. 


lOI 


from  the  crop  is  forced  tl)rouj;h  tlic  tliioat.  proiliu  iiii;  a  deep  hol- 
low sound  in  three  distinct  syllables.  The  (piality  of  the  notes 
sii;;.u;ests  their  beinj;  eniitteil  under  water;  and  this  has  given  rise  to 
the  theory,  so  strongly  urged  by  many  writers,  that  the  performer 
held  its  bill  under  water.  The  emission  of  the  sound  is  accom- 
panied by  convulsive  movements,  as  if  the  bird  was  vomiting. 

The  liittern's  fondness  for  retirement  has  been  exaggerated  ,  for 
though  it  does  dwell  in  the  wilderness,  —  on  the  marshy  margins 
of  streams  and  lakes,  and  in  the  depth:;  of  swamps,  —  I  have 
fre(|uently  found  the  nest  close  to  a  bustling  village;  one  within 
sound  of  children's  voices  phiying  around  a  sciiool-house. 


» 


I  of  con- 
by  an 
|»r  Janu- 

joj}  with 
|ng  this 
the  air 


LEAST   HII'IKRN. 

l>()i.\rKis  I  xii.is. 

Char.  Adult  male,  ciowii,  i);ick,  and  tail  black,  glo.ssed  with  green; 
narrow  stripe  i)f  buff  on  each  side  oi  back  ;  back  of  neck  chestnut  ;  wings 
bulf  and  rufous  ;  under  parts  pale  buff.  Keniaie ;  >iuiilar  to  male,  but 
black  of  head  and  back  mostly  replaced  by  brown.  Length  about  i ;, 
inches. 

..WiV.  Usually  amid  the  rank  grass  and  rushes  on  the  marshy  margin 
of  a  pond ;  placed  on  the  ground  and  made  of  coarse  grass  or  dead 
rushes. 

^'•aX^-     3~5  i  'hill  white  with  a  i)ale  tinge  of  blue  or  green  ;   1.20  X  0.95. 

The  Least  Bittern  has  not  .so  extended  a  distribution  as  its  larger 
congener,  but  it  is  found  regularly  as  far  north  as  Ma.ssacluisett.s, 
and  stragglers  have  been  captured  in  Maine  and  New  Brunswick. 
It  is  common  in  the  southern  peninsula  of  Ontario,  and  in  Illinois 
and  Wisconsin,  and  breeds  south  to  Texas  and  Florida. 

Though  a  shy  bird,  courting  retirement  and  rarelv  a])pearing 
outside  the  shelter  of  its  reedy  haunts,  it  seems  to  be  indifferent  to 
;idjacent  noises.  For  years  some  pairs  have  spent  the  summer  in  a 
marshy  tract  close  to  the  busiest  district  of  the  town  of  Brookline, 
within  a  stone's  throw  of  a  street-car  track  and  a  j^kayground  : 
and  Fresh  I*ond  marsh,  near  Cambridge,  h;is  long  been  a  favorite 
resort. 

The  food  of  this  Bittern  consists  chiefly  of  small  fish,  lizard.s,  and 
young  frogs  :  but  it  will  not  refuse  a  chanc  e  to  vary  this  diet  with 
a  mouse  or  shrew.  It  utters  several  notes:  but  that  most  com- 
monly heard  is  a  hoarse  croak,  though  during  the  nesting-season 
a  (-oiling   note   is  heard   that   is  low   and   soft  and  sweet.     When 


102 


WADING   HIKDS. 


startled  it  jjivcs  a  cry  rcsL'ml)liii^'  the  iiiia  of  the  Night  Heron, 
and  dis])hiys  a  Rail-like  disposition  to  hiiU  amid  the  grass  rather 
than  tiy  from  danger.  Some  ol)servers  think  its  tiiglit  is  feeble 
and  cannot  l)e  sustained,  while  others  affirm  that  tlie  bird  is 
capable  of  prolonged  flight. 


\ 


CORY'S  M:.\s'r  liirri'.RN. 

UolAlKlS    MOXINA. 

CliAR.  Similar  to  li.txilh,  \t\\\.  smaller,  and  la(  kiiij;  the  stripes  of  buff 
on  the  sides  ol  tlie  back  ;  lower  tail-coverts  black  ;  wing-covcrts  cliesliuit. 
Length  al)i)ut  1 1  inches. 

iWst  and  AvV*'-     Unknown. 

'I'liis  species  was  descriljcd  by  Mr,  Charles  15.  Cory  in  i(SS6 
from  the  type  which  was  taken  in  Florida  l)y  .Mr.  R.  '1".  Stuart.  A 
second  specimen,  taken  in  Florida  during  July,  18S9,  was  reported 
by  Mr.  W.  E.  D    Scott. 

The  habits  of  the  bird  are  sui)i)osed  to  be  similar  to  those  of 
exilis.  Mr.  Scott's  example  was  discovered  while  walking  on  the 
leaves  of  pond-lilies,  and  when  startled  it  retreated  to  the  tall  grass 
on  the  margin  of  the  pond. 


li 


LIMPKIN. 

COl'RI-.\N. 

.Arami's  (;i(;ANri,rs. 

Char  Prevailing  color  dark  brown  jjlosscd  with  purple  ;  head,  neck, 
and  back  striped  with  white  ;  throat  white,  (icncral  a])pearancc  rather 
Iferon-likc.      Length  about  26  inches. 

iVt'st.  Amid  rushes  or  upon  a  low  bush,  on  the  margin  of  a  pond  or 
stream  ;  made  of  vinc-Icaves  and  grass. 

Ei^r^s.  4-8;  huffy  white  or  grayish  white  spotted  with  brown  and  gray ; 
variable  in  size,  average  about  2.40  X  i-70- 

This  singular  bird  principally  inhaliits  Cayenne.  Rrazil,  and 
Paraguay,  where  it  is  rather  common  ;  it  is  numerous  in  the 


LIMl'KIN. 


'03 


ishind   of  Cuba  aiid  other  warm  i)arts  of  Anu'rira.     In  the 
Tnitcd  States,  I'lori.hi  appears  to  l)e  its  most  natural  residence, 
-ind  a  few  instances  have  occurred  of  its  visitin-  the  Middle- 
States.     ']'he  Cuurlan  leads  a  solitary  hfe,  or  only  associates  by 
iK'irs.      By  night  as  well  as  day  it  is  heard  crying  out  in  a  loud 
and  sonorous  yoice  carau .'  an.l  is  well  entitled  to  the  name  of 
the  suppose.l  "  ,rying-bird  "  of  iJartram.     Mollusca,  frogs,  an.l 
other  aquatic  animals  are  its  ordinary  food.     It  is  very  shy 
carefully  hiding  itself;  but  when  aware  of  being  discovered   it 
starts  rapidly  to  a  great  elevation,  and  its  tlight  is  long  con- 
tinued.    It  also  walks  with  great  agility,  but   never  willingly 
wades  into  the  water.     It  alights  on  the  summits  of  trees,  an.l 
builds  in  the  grass,  near  stagnant  water,  concealing  the  nest 
with  much  art.     The  young  are  covered  with  blackish  down 
when  hatched,  and  soon  follow  their  parents.     Like  the  Rail 
this  bird  runs  swiftly  through  the  grass,  compressing  its  narroJ 
body  so  as  to  pass  through  a  small  hole,  and  is  very  difficult  t.. 
catch  when  wounded. 

This  species  has  been  named  Limpkin  by  naturalists,  because 
tl  a  IS  the  name  by  which  it  is  known  in  Florida, -the  only  State 
of  the  Union  m  which  the  bini  is  found.  The  name  is  said  to  have 
been  suggestc.l  by  the  walk  of  the  bird,  its  movements  resembling 
tlie  motions  of  a  lame  person.  ^ 

In  Jamaica  it  is  called  the  "Clucking  Hen,"  from  its  habits  of 
sauntering  along  and  deliberately  clucking  like  a  fowl 

Un  Bryant  reported  finding  a  nest  containing  tilteen  eggs:  but 
';:::: ;::^:'  •--  ^'-  --^  --^er  of  t..  sets  take^uring 


T 


:ii 


FLAMINGO. 

PHfF.NICOITr.Rl'S    RUnF.R. 

Char.  General  color  bright  pink,  clee|)cst  on  breast  and  wings ;  ))ri- 
mnry  and  secon(l;iry  feathers  of  wings  black  ;  base  of  bill  yellow,  terminal 
half  black.  legs  red.  Tiie  young  are  paler,  the  jiink  tints  deepening 
with  age      Length  about  4  feet.     Stature  nearly  5  feet. 

AW/.  Usually  in  a  colony,  situated  on  the  shore  of  a  shallow  lagoon 
or  pond,  or  <m  a  mud  island,  —  a  saucer-like  depression  in  the  mud,  with  a 
rim  or  bulwark  3  to  6  inches  in  height.  Sometimes  a  cone-shaped  mound 
of  mud  is  built  up  from  the  bottom  of  the  lagoon  and  raised  S  to  10  inches 
or  higher  above  the  water  level. 

Aj,';;'-.!'.  2  ;  white,  much  elongated,  and  with  a  rough  plaster-like  surface; 
3.60  X  ::.20. 


FI.AMINGO. 


105 


;  pri- 
rminal 
Idling 

jagoon 
Ivilli  a 
lioiind 
Inches 

rf  ace ; 


The  I'laminpn  of  Atnerica  is  found  chiefly  in  the  fopical 
regions,  wlKiue  it  appears  to  emigrate  in  siunmer  on  either 
side  the  e(|uator,  in  the  southern  hemisphere  vi>iting  Ura/il. 
I'eru,  C'hih,  and  iJuenos  Ayres,  on  the  shores  of  I, a  Plata. 
It  is  also  seen  in  Cayenne  (where  it  is  known  by  the  name 
of  Tococo,  from  the  usual  sound  of  its  call)  and  in  vari- 
ous islands  of  the  West  Indies.  It  breeds  in  Cuba  and  the 
IJahamas,  is  not  infrequent  at  certain  seasons  on  the  const 
of  riorida,  and  sometimes  solitary  individuals  are  obst-rsed 
even  in  the  Middle  States;  but  in  the  Union  generally  the 
species  may  be  ( onsidered  as  rare.  When  seen  at  a  distance, 
such  is  the  brilliancy  of  their  dress  and  the  elevation  at  whic  h 
the  birds  stand  that  they  appear  like  a  troop  of  soldiers  being 
arranged  alongside  of  each  other  in  lines,  while  on  the  borders 
of  rivers  and  estuaries  near  the  sea  they  asseml)le  in  search  of 
their  tbod,  which  consists  chielly  of  small  fish,  spawn,  and 
a(|uatic  msects.  They  collect  their  prey  by  plunging  in  the 
bill  and  part  of  the  head,  and  from  time  to  time  trample  with 
their  feet  to  disturb  the  water  and  raise  it  from  the  bottom. 
While  the  rest  are  thus  employed  in  seeking  their  sul)sistence, 
one  of  them  stands  sentinel,  anil  on  the  first  note  of  alarm,  a 
kind  of  trumpet-call,  he  takes  to  wing,  and  the  whole  flock 
immediately  follow. 

The  flesh  of  the  American  Flamingo  is  accoimted  pretty 
good  food,  and  that  of  ihe  young  is  thought  by  s(Miie  e(|ual 
to  the  Partridge.  Davies,  in  his  "  History  of  IJarbadoes," 
says  it  is  commonly  fat  and  accounted  delicate  ;  while  of  the 
transatlantic  species  Dillon  remarks  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Provence  always  throw  away  the  flesh,  as  it  tastes  fishy,  and 
make  use  only  of  the  feathers  as  ornaments.  P.ut  of  this  kind, 
celebrated  in  history,  the  ancients  esteemed  the  tongiie  as  an 
exquisite  dainty,  and  Philostratus  reckoned  it  among  the  deli- 
cacies of  entertainments. 

The  claim  of  the  Flamingo  to  recognition  liere  rests  ujion  its 
appearance  every  year  on  tlie  Keys  off  the  most  southern  coast  of 
Florida;  though  at  an  earlier  day  nests  were  found  on  tiie  main- 
land, and  Hocks  of  the  birds  were  met  with  along  the  western  shores 


i 


1 06 


WADING   BIRDS. 


of  tliat  State,  and  Audubon  credits  it  with  occurring  along  the 
Atlantic  coast  to  Cliarlcston,  S.  C,  as  late  as  1830. 

The  old  notion  that  when  silting  on  the  eggs  the  bird's  legs 
dangle  awkwardly  on  each  side  of  a  high  cone-shaped  nest  has 
been  iliscarded,  recent  observers  affirming  that  the  feet  are  drawn 
up  under  the  sides  of  the  body,  tiie  nest  being  close  to  the 
ground,  or  no  higher  than  is  necessary  to  protect  the  eggs  from  the 
water  with  which  they  may  be  surrounded. 

When  on  the  nest  the  neck  is  gracefully  curved  and  the  head 
neatly  tucked  away  among  the  feathers  of  the  back,  like  a  Swan's; 
but  when  flying,  the  Flamingo  does  not  curve  its  neck,  as  a  Heron 
will,  but  carries  both  neck  and  legs  outstretched  and  rigid. 


'', 


AMERICAN   AVOCiyr. 

Rl  CL"RVIR(  )SrRA   AMKklCANA. 

Char.  Back  and  most  of  wings  bl.nck,  vcm;iindcr  of  plumage  white, 
excci)ting  iicad  and  iKck,  which  are  pale  brown  in  sununcr  and  pale  gray 
in  winter ;  feet  webbed ;  legs  blue ;  bill  black,  long,  and  recurved. 
Length  about  17  inches. 

Nest.  A  bulky  affair  of  dry  grass  or  seaweed  lined  with  fine  grass ; 
pl.aced  .amid  tall  herbage  on  the  marshy  margin  of  a  i)ond. 

/s;;o-.  3-4  ;  buff  or  reddish  drab,  sometimes  with  an  olive  tint,  cov- 
ered with  spots  of  brown  of  several  shades;  size  variable,  average  about 
2.00  X  I  35. 

'I'he  American  Avocet,  supposed  to  winter  in  tropical  Amer- 
ica, arrives  on  the  coast  of  Cape  May,  in  New  Jersey,  late  in 
.\l)ril,  where  it  rears  its  young,  and  retires  to  the  South  early 
in  the  month  of  October.  In  the  sjiring  it  was  observed  by 
Mr.  Say  in  the  lower  part  of  Missouri.  It  is  also  known  to 
visit  Nova  Scotia,  though  scarcely  ever  seen  in  the  State  of 
Massachusetts.  1  )r.  Richardson  also  found  it  abundant  in  the 
Saskatchewan  plains  as  far  as  the  53d  parallel,  where  it 
frei^uents  shallow  lakes,  feeding  on  insects  and  fresh-water 
Crustacea.  In  New  Jersey  it  seems  tv;  have  a  predilection  for 
the  shallow  pools  of  the  salt-marshes,  wading  about  often  in 
search  of  prey,  which  consists  of  marine  worms,  small  paludi- 
nas.  turbos,  etc.,  to  which,  like  the  I-nropean  species,  it  some- 
times adds  small  Fi/ci  or  marine  vegetables. 


I: 


I 


AMERICAN    AVOCET. 


107 


licad 


The    Avocets    near   their  breeding-places   are    verv    noisy, 

quailing,   and   clamorous,   flying  around  in  circles  near  their 

invaders,  and  in  a  sharp  but  ])laintive  tone  uttering  V//X',  \iik, 

'c/ik.  in  the  manner  of  the  Stilts  or  Long  Legs  ^/limantopiis), 

with  which  at  times  they  familiarly  associate  in  siuall  numbers 

to  pass  the  important  period  of  reproduction.     J. ike  them  also 

they  alight  on  the  marsh  or  in  the  water  indifferently,  fluttering 

their  loose  wings  and  shaking  their  tottering  and  bending  legs 

as  if  ready  to  fall,  keeping  up  at  the  same  time  a  continual 

yelping.     The  nest,  in  the  same  marsh  with   the  Stilts,   was 

hidden  in  a  thick  tuft  of  grass  or  sedge  at  a  small  distance 

from  one  of  their  favorite  pools.     It  was  composed  of  small 

twigs  of  some   marine  shrub,  withered  grass,  sea-weeds,  and 

other   similar    materials,   the  whole    raised   to  the    height   of 

several  inches. 

Buffon.  theorizing  on  the  singular  structure  of  the  bill  of  the 
Avocet,  supi)oses  it  to  be  "  one  of  those  errors  or  essays  of 
Nature  which,  if  carried  a  little  further,  would  destroy  itself; 
for  (/the  curvature  of  the  bill  were  a  degree  increased,  the  bird 
could  n  '  procure  any  sort  of  ftjod,  and  the  organ  destined  for 
the  support  of  life  would  infallibly  occasion  its  destruction." 
As  it  happens,  however,  and  not  as  iiii^:;ht  he  imax'iiit-d,  the 
Avocet,  no  less  than  the  Crossbill,  contiiuies  not  only  to  live, 
but  to  vary  its  fare  and  obtain  it  with  facility.  J':ven  the  sloth, 
that  triumph  on  the  occasional  imbecility  of  Nature,  so  wretched 
and  lost  upon  the  plain  ground,  for  which  the  motions  of  its 
peculiar  and  unequal  limbs  arc  not  calculated,  climbs  up  a  tree 
with  facility,  and,  like  the  tribe  of  monkeys,  is  perfectly  at  ease 
in  its  accustomed  arboreal  retreat.  Let  us  then  more  wisely 
content  ourselves  to  observe  Nature  in  all  her  ingenious 
paths,  without  daring,  in  our  ignorance,  to  imagine  the  pos- 
sible failure  of  her  conservative  laws. 

The  Avocet  is  a  rather  nncomnidii  bird  near  the  Atlantic  const, 
and  north  of  New  Jorsev  is  merely  a  straggler,  a  few  e.\ain])lLs 
having  been  taken  in  Connecticut.  .Massachusetts,  .Maine,  and  New 
Brunswick.  On  the  alkali  plains  of  tlic  West  it  is  quite  abundant. 
and  ranges  as  far  north  as  (ireat  Slave  Lake. 


m 


ft 
( 


f 


l^ 


ROSEATE   SPOON lU EL. 

AjAJA   AJAJA. 

Char.  Head  hare,  skin  qreen,  orange,  and  black;  bill  long,  broad, 
flat,  and  widened  towards  the  end;  neck,  breast,  and  back  white;  short 
plumes  of  breast,  wings,  and  tail  rich  carmine;  tail  and  patch  on  neck 
biitf ;  under  jjarts  deep  rose  color.     Length  about  30  inches. 

.\W/.  In  a  colony,  placed  amid  the  tall  grass  of  a  salt  marsh  near  the 
mouth  of  a  river  or  on  a  marshy  sea  island;  made  of  twigs  loosely  ar- 
ranged,—  a  mere  platform,  raised  several  inches  from  the  ground. 

/•-XX'f'     5~7  ;  ^lu"  white  or  pale  buff,  spotted  with  brown  ;   2.60  X  1. 75. 

The  Red  or  American  Spoonbill  chiefly  dwells  within  the 
tropical  regions  of  the  continent,  being  common  in  Jamaica 
and  other  of  the  West   India  islands,  as  well  as   in  Mexico, 


ROSEATE  SPOONJ51LL. 


109 


road, 
short 
iicck 


I 


(luiana,  and  IJrazil.  In  the  southern  hemisphere  it  is  said  to 
exist  in  Peru  and  as  far  down  the  coast  of  South  America  as 
I'atagonia.  North  of  the  e(iuator  it  migrates  in  suiiimer  into 
Florida,  and  is  met  with  to  the  confines  of  the  Altamaha,  in 
(Georgia.  Wilson's  specimen  was  obtained  up  the  Mississippi 
at  the  town  of  Natchez  (about  the  latitude  of  32°).  Some' 
are  also  occasionally  met  with  on  the  river  shores  of  the  Ala- 
bama, and  in  other  parts  of  that  State.  A  straggler  has  been 
known  to  wander  as  far  as  the  banks  of  the  Delaware. 

According  to  the  relation  of  Captain  Henderson,  in  his 
account  of  Honduras,  this  species  is  more  maritime  in  its 
habits  than  that  of  Juirope,  as  it  wades  about  in  cpiest  of  shell- 
fish, marine  insects,  fry,  and  small  crabs ;  and  in  pursuit  of 
these,  according  to  him,  it  occasionally  swims  and  dives 

I  he  Kuropean,  or  white,  species  appears  to  resi.le  in  much 
cooler  dimes  than  the  American,  being  abundant  in  Hollaml, 
and  even  at  times  visiting  the  shores  of  the  South  and  Wet 
of  England  in  whole  flocks.  It  is  there,  however,  a  bird  of 
passage,  and  in  migrations  accompanies  the  flocks  of  Swans. 

At  the  present  day  Spoonbills  are  found  rcgularlv  no  farther 
no.th  than  he  mantime  districts  of  the  Gulf  States  though  an 
o  ni.onal  bird  wanders  up  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  raging 
at  times  as  far  as  southern   Illinois.  ' 

They  were  abundant  in  Florida  not  manv  years  a-o,  hut  the 
plume-hunters  have  almost  e.xterminated  them  there. 


ir  the 
Iv  ar- 


•75- 

the 
laica 
cico. 


m 


[i 
I 


I  ' 


WOOD    IBIS. 

wood  stork. 

Tantalus  i.oculator. 

Char.  Ciencral  color  wliitc  ;  tail  and  part  of  wings  black,  with  metal- 
lic rttlcctions  ;  licad  and  upper  half  of  neck  bare,  the  skin  hard,  rough, 
and  of  a  dusky  color,      l.en^tli  about  40  inches. 

A'lS/.  In  a  colony  situated  aniitl  a  dense  cypress-swamp,  placed  on  an 
ujiper  branch  of  a  tall  tree;  a  loosely  arranged  structure  of  twigs,  lined 
with  moss,  —  the  si/e  increasing  by  yearly  .ulditions. 

E,i,';i,^s.     2-3  :  wliite,  spotted  with  brown  ;  the  surface  rough  ;  2.75  X  1.75. 

This  is  another  tribe  of  singukir  wading  birds,  which  emi- 
grate in  the  stnnnier  to  a  certain  distance  on  either  side  of 
the  equator ;  being  foinid  occasionally  as  far  north  as  Virginia, 
and  as  far  south,  in  the  other  hemisjjhere,  as  the  savannahs  of 


± 


I 


tal- 

ail 
icd 


111- 
of 
ia, 
of 


WOOD   IBIS. 


II  I 


Cayenne  and  Brazil,  and  in  other  parts  of  South  America.  In 
the  compass  of  the  United  States  their  principal  residence  is 
in  the  inundaletl  wilds  of  the  peninsula  of  l'!ast  ]''loritla,  and 
they  are  not  uncommon  in  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Carolina, 
and  (ieorgia,  withdrawing  from  the  north,  however,  at  the 
commencement  of  cold  weather  or  about  the  month  of 
November. 

.According  to  Bartram,  who  had  many  opjxjrtunities  of  ob- 
serving them  in  Florida,  they  are  solitary  and  indolent  birds, 
seldom  associating  in  flocks,  and  usually  frecjuent  the  banks 
of  the  principal  rivers,  marshes,  and  savannahs,  especially  such 
as  are  inundated,  as  well  as  the  larger  deserted  rice-i)lanta- 
tions  contiguous  to  the  sea-coast.  Here,  alone,  the  feathered 
hermit  stand:s  listless,  on  the  topuKxst  limb  of  some  tall  and 
decayed  cypress,  with  his  neck  drawn  in  u})on  his  shoulders, 
and  his  enormous  bill  resting  like  a  scythe  upon  his  breast. 
Thus  pensive  and  lonely,  he  has  a  grave  and  melancholy  as- 
pect, as  if  ruminating  in  the  deepest  thought ;  anil  in  this  sad 
posture  of  gluttonous  inactivity  these  birds  probably,  like 
Merons,  pass  the  greatest  part  of  their  time,  till,  awakened  by 
the  calls  of  hunger,  they  become  active  in  ([uest  of  their  prey 
of  snakes,  young  alligators,  fish,  frogs,  and  other  re])tiles. 
They  are  easily  approached  and  shot,  when  abandoned  to 
repose,  and  are  by  many  of  the  inhabitants  accounted  as 
excellent  food. 

This  Ibis  is  found  in  all  the  .Southern  .States,  though  at  present 
it  is  not  a  common  bird  anywhere  witiiin  our  borders.  Stragglers 
have  been  met  witii  north  to  New  \'oik.  Ohio.  Indiana,  and 
Wisconsin. 

Bartram's  account  of  the  hermit-like  habits  of  the  bird,  cpioted 
by  Nuttall,  was  criticised  by  Aubudon,  who  rarely  met  witii  a  soli- 
tary e-xample, —  the  birds  were  always  in  llocks  :  but  Dr.  Heiirv 
Bryant  states  that  he  never  saw  w  Jimk  of  Wood  Ibises  e.xcepting 
at  their  breeding-jjlace.  The  principal  food  of  this  species  is  small 
fish,  wiiieli  are  caught  in  tlie  shallow  waters,  the  Ibis  scratching  or 
"raking"  tlie  bottom  to  startle  its  prey:  but  a  meal  of  frog,  turtle, 
bird,  or  snake  is  never  neglected,  and  a  young  alligator  is  not  sate 
within  reach  of  the  bird's  long  and  powerful  i)ill. 


'ii\ 


-4 


112 


WADING  BIRDS. 


'■ 


SCARLET    IBIS. 

(ilARA    RL'HRA. 

CiiAK.  Kntire  plumage  deep  scarlet,  excepting  the  tips  of  the  longest 
wing-feathers,  which  are  black      I.tngth  about  30  inches. 

A'fsf.  In  a  colony,  amid  a  thicket  of  small  trees  and  vines;  placed  on 
a  low  tree  or  bush,  — a  mere  platform  of  loosely  arranged  twigs  and  leaves. 

/i>VJ-     --3;  thill  white  or  pale  gray,  spotted  with  brown  ;  2.10  X  •45 

Nuttall  followed  Wij.son  in  creditin^ii  the  Scarlet  Ilji.s  to  the 
Southern  States;  but  its  appearance  within  our  borders  during 
recent  years  lias  been  merely  casual,  and  it  has  not  been  seen  else- 
where than  in  Florida  and  Louisiana. 


\\-{ 


\\. 


wHiri-:  IBIS. 

GUAR.\     AI.IiA. 

Char.  Entire  plumage  pure  white,  excepting  the  tips  of  the  longest 
wing-feathers,  which  are  black.  In  freshly  killed  specimens  the  white  is 
tinged  with  a  delicate  shade  of  pink.     Length  about  24  inches. 

.\<j7.  In  a  colony,  amid  tall  marsh-grass  by  the  soa-shore  or  near  a 
pond  in  the  woods;  a  compactly  woven  structure,  sometimes  deejjly  hol- 
lowed, but  often  quite  shallow,  made  of  reeds  or  twigs  and  lined  with 
green  leaves  ;  fastened  to  ujiright  reeds  or  placed  on  a  bush  or  low  tree. 

^''.^.O'-  3-5;  dull  white  tinted  with  green  or  blue,  and  marked  with 
brown  spots;  2.25  X   I-50. 

This  species,  so  extremely  like  the  preceding,  except  in  its 
permanent  white  color,  is  likewise  common  in  the  tropical 
parts  of  the  American  continent,  particularly  the  Caribbee 
Islands,  and  extends  its  residence  at  least  as  far  south  beyond 
the  equator  as  the  coast  of  Brazil.  Wilson  obser\Ts  that  the 
species  appeared  to  be  pretty  numerous  on  the  borders  of  Lake 
Pontchartrain,  near  New  Orleans,  in  the  month  of  June  ;  he 
also  saw  it  on  the  low  keys  or  islands  off  the  coast  of  Florida. 
These  birds  rarely  proceed  to  the  north  of  Carolina,  which  they 
visit  only  for  a  few  wrecks  towards  the  close  of  summer,  —  col- 
lected probably  from  their  dispersed  breeding-places,  a  little 


/*> 


WHITE   in  IS. 


113 


t  in  its 
ropical 
iribbee 
beyond 
at  the 
f  Lake 
ine  ;  he 
'lorida. 
ich  they 
—  col- 
a  little 


previous  to  the  ]icrio(l  of  their  migration  l)ack  again  to  the 
Houih,  which  takes  place  on  thi'  return  of  cool  weather.  'I'heir 
food  and  haunts  are  altogether  similar  willi  tho>.i'  of  the  |)re- 
ceding  species,  and,  like  them,  they  seldom  remove  to  any  great 
distance  from  the  sea.  Mr.  IJartram  remarks  that  '*  they  fly 
in  large  tlocks  or  scjuatlrons,  evening  and  mcjrning,  to  and  from 
their  feeding-places  or  roosts,  and  are  usually  called  Spanish 
Curlews.  They  subsist  principally  on  cray-fish,  whose  cells 
they  probe,  and  with  their  strong  j)inching  bills  drag  them 
out."  They  also  feed  on  fry  and  iupiatic  insects,  and  their 
flesh  is  sometimes  eaten,  but  not  much  esteemed. 

IJirds  of  this  species  may  frecjuently  be  seen  standing  on 
the  dead  branches  of  trees  and  on  the  shore,  resting  on  one 
leg,  with  the  body  in  an  almost  perpendicular  j)osition,  and  the 
head  and  bill  resting  on  the  breast.  —  which,  indeed,  appears 
to  be  their  common  mode  of  re])osing,  in  consequence  of 
which,  and  as  a  proof  of  the  habitual  indolence  of  the  species, 
the  plumage,  as  in  the  Wood  Ibis,  on  the  ridge  of  the  neck 
and  upper  part  of  the  back,  is  exidently  worn  by  the  constancy 
of  this  habit. 

Sometimes,  according  to  IJartram,  during  the  j^revalence  of 
high  winds  and  in  thunder-storms,  they  may  be  seen  collected 
into  numerous  flocks,  driving  to  and  fro,  or  turning  and  tack- 
ing about  high  in  the  air,  during  which  e\olutions  with  the 
contending  currents  of  the  wind  their  silvery  plumage  gleams 
and  sparkles  with  unusual  brilliance  as  it  reflects  the  flashing 
light  from  amidst  the  dark  and  hovering  clouds. 

The  Wliitc  Ibis  has  been  until  quite  recently  a  common  bird  in 
.some  localities  in  the  Southern  .States.  It  occurs  rcguhuly  on  tlie 
Atlantic  shore  to  North  Carolina  (occasional  stragglers  have  l)een 
seen  in  New  Jersey),  and  along  tlie  valley  of  tlie  Mississippi 
ranges  farther  north,  —  to  Indiana  and  southern  Illinois. 

VOL.   II.  —  S 


1 1 


I 


r 


f?  f 


f 


GLOSSY    riHS. 

PlEGADIS    AUTUMNAI.IS. 

Chau.  Back,  wings,  and  tail  dark  purple  with  metallic  reflections  of 
ureen  and  bronze  ;  head,  neck,  wing-coverts,  and  under  parts  rich  chest- 
nut, tinged  with  purple;  bill  brown  ;  legs  greenish  brown  Length  about 
24  inches. 

AVj/.  In  a  colony,  situated  in  a  marsh  or  swam])  011  the  bank  of  a 
river,  lake,  or  shallow  lagoon;  a  compact  structure  more  neatly  built  than 
the  nest  of  any  of  the  Herons,  composed  of  dead  reeds  or  twigs  and 
grass;  fastened  to  upright  reeds  or  jilaced  on  a  platfdrm  of  bent  reeds, 
sometimes  in  a  bush  or  tree  growing  in  the  water,  and  occasionally  the 
platform  hearing  the  nest  floats  upon  the  water. 

/''j^'^iy's.     3-4  ;  light  blue,  or  dark  blue  with  a  green  tinge  ;  2.00  X  I.45. 

The  Glossy  Ibis  appears  to  be  within  the  temperate  and 
warmer  regions  ahnost  a  general  inhabitant  of  the  world. 
On  the  borders  of  rivers  and  lakes  it  is  seen,  for  example, 
abundant  as  a  bird  of  ])assage  in  Poland,  Hungary,  Turkey, 
and  the   Grecian   .Vrchipelago ;    it   visits  the  borders  of   the 


f 


GLOSSY  inis. 


115 


^ 

^■^ 


lection?  of 
iich  chest- 
Igth  al)unl 

|)ank  of  'i 
Ibuilt  than 
twigs  and 
lent  iceds, 
lonally  the 

•;ite  and 
world, 
.'xamplo, 
Turkey, 
Is  of   the 


Danube,  and  is  seen  sDinitinic^  m  Swii/erland  and  Italy, 
thoui^h  rarely  in  MnL^land  and  llijlland;  antl  is  tor  seven 
nionliis  a  periodical  xisitor  in  l-,uyi't,  wliere.  in  comnion  with 
tile  Sacred  Ibis,  it  was  revered  and  enibahned  in  the  vast  cata- 
( ()inl)S  of  Saccara  and  Menipiiis.  It  arrives  in  that  country  in 
October,  and  lea\es  it  in  the  month  of  .March.  It  is  known  to 
breed  up  tlie  rivers  oi  tiie  Caspian  and  P.iack  Seas,  and  i(j 
spread  into  ls.us.->ia.  Siberia,  I'artary,  1  )eniuark.  oci  asionally 
into  Sweden,  and  perhaps  I,ai)land,  for  the  same  purpose  ; 
remainiuL;  m  tiiose  countries  till  driven  to  mii;rate  by  the 
mcleniency  of  ai)proachinn  wmter,  at  which  period  it  appears 
to  arrive  in  .Vtrica  and  Asia.  It  is  a  still  more  rare  and  ac(  1 
dental  \i>itor  in  the  I'nited  States  than  in  I'lni^'land.  .\  spe- 
cimen has  occasionally  been  exposi-d  tor  sale  in  the  markets  of 
jjoston.  and  individuals  are,  at  distant  intervals,  shot  off  Long 
Island  and  on  the  shores  of  New  Jersey.  At  very  irregular 
]»eriods  in  the  spring  season,  small  iKh  ks  are  thus  seen  on  tlie 
coasts  of  the  Middle  States  and  as  far  south  as  Maryland  and 
\'irginia.  \'ieillot  also  asserts  their  occasional  a])pearance  even 
in  Cayenne,  Icelan<l,  and  (Ireenland;  and  they  are  fotmd  com- 
mon along  the  rivers  in  the  island  of  Java  and  in  the  Celebes. 

The  Ibises  ordinarily  dwell  together  in  (locks  in  marshy 
and  inundated  groimds,  e.\])loring  for  their  food  with  great 
regularity,  side  by  side  advancing,  like  discii)line(l  troops  in  an 
extendeil  line,  ijerambulating  the  meadows  they  visit  in  ])ref- 
erence  to  making  a  desultory  tlight,  and  for  hours  they  are 
observed  boring  the  same  spot  with  their  long  and  sensitive 
bills,  when  their  i)rey  is  abimdant.  Sedate  in  their  movements, 
elevating  their  feet  high  in  walking,  and  as  it  were  measuring 
their  steps,  tiiey  seem  by  the  delicacy  of  their  actions  as  if 
conscious  of  the  venerati(jn  ami  high  regard  symbolically 
bestowetl  ui)on  them  by  the  nations  of  aiui(|uity.  When, 
however,  alarmed,  they  rise  high  in  the  air.  in  a  wide  spiral 
range,  uttering  loud  cries,  like  (leese,  antl  having  attained  a 
safe  elevation,  they  file  off  in  a  hori/cjiilal  direction,  uttering  at 
intervals  a  low  and  hoarse  sound,  and  their  lliuht  beiiiir  vi<:or- 
ous,  they  soon  disappear  fnjm  sight.     They  are  said  to  nest  in 


n 


0: 


M 


Ii6 


WADINC;    IJIKDS. 


I 
t 

;     I 


I 


trees;  hut  of  their  manners  during  the  period  of  reproduction 
we  are  still  wholly  ignorant,  and  Temniinck  lielieves  that  they 
retire  to  breed  in  the  wilds  of  Asia,  though  Montague  thinks 
their  vernal  M)igrati(jns  are  directed  to  the  less-inhabited  parts 
ot  the  North,  where  they  find  security  about  the  rivers  and 
interior  lakes  to  propagate,  and  whence  they  retire  as  the 
winter  approaches  and  as  their  food  begins  to  fail,  spreading 
themselves  at  this  season  over  the  southern  parts  of  lhiro])e 
and  the  adjoining  continents.  According  to  Oedman,  they 
have  been  known  to  breed,  for  several  years  in  succession,  in 
the  isle  of  ( )land,  in  the  Baltic. 

'I'he  food  of  the  Ibis  is  merely  insects,  worms,  river  shell- 
fish, and  vegetables,  which  is  likewise  the  real  fare  of  the  nearly 
allied.  Sacred  Ibis,  of  the  I'lgyjjtians  (//v.*  niigiosa.  (\\\v.\<), 
neither  of  whom  show  any  predilection  for  devouring  serpents 
or  large  reptiles,  —  for  which  purpose,  in  fact,  the  structure  of 
their  long  and  falciform  bills  is  wholly  unfitted. 

From  the  su])j)osed  utility  ol  the  Ibis  in  destroying  noxious 
reptiles,  it  was  held  in  the  greatest  veneration  by  the  Egyp- 
tians ;  to  kill  it  was  forbidden  under  ])ain  of  death  ;  large 
fiocks  were  kept  in  temples,  and  when  they  died,  were 
embalmed,  inurned,  and  dejjosited  with  the  mummies  in  the 
sacred  receptacles  of  the  dead.  These  />i)u/-pif.<,  as  they  are 
still  called,  are  scattered  over  the  plains  of  Saccara,  and  are 
filled  with  the  numerous  remains  of  this  and  the  ICgyjiitian 
s]jecies.  So  highly  was  it  honored  that  the  Ibis  became  the 
characteristic  hieroglyi)h  of  the  country,  repeated  upon  all 
the  monuments,  obelisks,  and  national  statues.  The  abun- 
dance of  their  remains  in  the  catacombs  proves,  indeed,  the 
familiarity  which  the  species  had  contracted  with  the  indulgent 
inhabitants  of  its  favorite  country ;  and,  like  the  Stork  of 
luirope,  venerated  for  its  supposed  piety,  it  gained  credit,  in 
the  prejudices  of  the  ignorant,  for  benefits  which  it  never  con- 
ferred. Diodorus  Siculus,  however,  only  adds,  what  appears 
l)y  no  means  imi)robable,  that,  impelled  by  hunger  on  their 
first  arrival,  night  and  day  the  Ibis,  walking  by  the  verge 
of  the  water,  watches  rejitiles,  st'd/r /////<;  Jor  their  eggs,  and 


I 


GLOSSY    IRIS. 


11 


ction 

ihcy 
liinks 

parts 
s  and 
\s  the 
.•a(Ung 
Europe 
I,  they 
lion,  in 

r  shell- 
•  nearly 

I'VIKU), 

serpents 
icture  of 

noxious 

e  Kgyp- 
h;  large 
d,    were 
s  in  the 
they  are 
and  arc 
V:gyptian 
ame  the 
upon  all 
e    abun- 
Iced,  the 
ndiilgent 
Stork    of 
credit,  in 
lever  con- 
ai)pears 
on  their 
he  verge 
rcirs,  and 


destroying  all  the  beetles  and  grasshoppers  which  it  finds.  'I'hus 
accustomed  to  favor  and  iuununily  (like  our  own  Vulture  scav- 
engers), in  I'-gypt  these  birds  advancetl  without  fear  into  the 
midst  of  the  cities.  Strabo  relates  that  they  filled  the  streets 
and  lanes  of  .Alexandria  to  such  a  degree  as  to  become  Iroii- 
blesome  and  importunate;  and  I  lasseliiiiist  remarks  that  in 
Lower  Mgvi)t  as  soon  as  the  Nile  beiomes  freed  from  its  inun- 
dations, they  arrive  in  such  numbers  as  to  be  seen  morning 
and  evening  fre(iuenting  the  gardens  and  covering  whole 
])alin-trees  witii  their  tlocks.  'I'he  I';gy|)tian  Ibis  is  likewise 
said  to  construct  its  nest  familiarly  in  the  clustering  fronds  of 
the  date-palm,  where  it  lays  four  eggs,  and  sits,  according  to 
the  fanciful  caliulation  of  .Mlian,  as  many  days  as  the  star 
Isis  takes  to  perforin  the  revolution  of  its  phases. 

To  enumerate  the  various  fictions  and  falsehoods  with  which 
the  ancients  have  chosen  to  eml)ellish  the  history  of  the  Ibis 
would  lie  as  vain  and  useless  to  the  naturalist  as  to  the  sober 
historian.  I^ven  Josephus  has  the  credulity  to  relate  that 
when  Moses  made  war  on  the  Kthiopians,  he  carried,  in  cages 
of  papyrus,  a  great  number  of  the  Ibis,  to  oppose  them  to  the 
seri)ents  !  Fables  of  this  kind  are  now  no  longer  capable  of 
being  substituted  for  facts,  and  the  naturalist  contents  him- 
self with  the  humbler,  but  more  useful,  employment  of  sim])ly 
describing  and  delineating  nature  as  it  issued  from  the  hands 
of  its  omnipotent  Creator.  This  superstition  has  also  had  its 
day,  and  the  Ibises,  no  longer  venerated  even  in  Kgypt,  are 
in  the  autumn  commonly  shot  and  ensnared  by  the  .Arabs  for 
food  ;  and  the  markets  of  the  sea-coast  are  now  abundantly 
su])plied  with  them  as  game,  together  with  the  white  species, 
both  of  which  are  ignominiously  exi)osed  for  sale  deprived  of 
their  heads,  —  a  si)ectacle  from  which  the  ancient  llgyptians 
would  have  recoiled  with  horror.  So  fickle  and  capricitnis, 
because   unreasonable,  is  the  dominion  of  superstition  : 

The  (llossy  Ibis  is  a  rare  bird  in  tliis  faunal  iiroviiici'.  but  it 
occurs  as  an  occasional  visitor  nortli  to  Massac  luisitts  and  OiUario, 
and  in  1.S7S  was  seen  on  I'rincc  lulward's  Islam!.  Thu  ncsl  has 
not  l)oen  found  north  of  Klorida. 


118 


WADING  LIKIJS. 


LONG-15IMJ;i)   (  TRI.IAV. 

SICKI.K-lilLL 
NUMI'.MLS    l,(  )Nt;iK(  )SrKIS. 

CiiAK.  l'|)|'^''  l';""'^  mottled  giiiy,  l)lack,  and  pale  lufoiis,  —  nifons 
l)eiii^  tlic'  i)ie\  ailing  tnit  ;  inukr  parts  pale  eiiinaninn,  tlie  neikand  Imast 
with  (lii>ky  stieaks ;  seioiidaiy  (|iiiils  rufi)Us,  primaries  Iirownisii  black; 
1)111  black  ;  legs  brownish  black      Length  about  25  inches. 

.\'(S/.  On  the  grinnid,  sometimes  in  wet  meadows  ;  a  slight  depression, 
lined,  sparingly,  with  gra>s 

^''.kX-'-  3-4  (very  variable  in  si/i',  color,  and  markings)  ;  nlive  drab  to 
pale  bnff,  thickly  speckled  and  blotched  with  brown,  sometimes  spotted 
with  lilac  also;  average  si/c  about  J. 60  X  l.8o. 

Tlu'  I,ong-billed  ("iirlcw  is  scon  in  the  marshes  of  Xe^v  Jer- 
sey about  the  middle  of  May  on  its  way  farther  north,  and 
in  September  or  the  latter  end  of  .\iit,'ust  on  its  return  from 
its  breeding-places.  How  far  south  it  retires  in  the  course 
of  the  winter,  has  not  been  ascertained  ;  but  a  few,  no  doul)t, 
winter  in  the  marshes  of  South  Carolina,  as  I  have  observed 
s])ecimens  on  the  muddy  shores  of  the  Santee,  near  Charleston, 
in  the  month  of  January.  Its  southern  migration  in  all  proba- 
bility is  bounded  by  the  shores  of  the  Mexican  (lulf.  Like 
most  species  of  the  genus,  it  retires  into  the  desolate  regions 
of  the  North  to  breed.  Dr.  Richardson  believes  that  it  fre- 
quents the  i)lains  of  the  Saskatchewan  and  the  Columbia  at 
this  season,  and  it  is  known  to  visit  the  neighborhood  of 
Mudson  IJay.  In  Major  Long's  expedition  it  apjx'ars  that 
some  of  these  birds  were  observed  as  far  inland  as  the  Illinois, 
latitude  42°,  on  the  15th  of  Jiuie,  —  which  might  be  supposed 
about  the  time  of  breeding.  Acconbng  to  Wilson,  a  few  in- 
stances have  been  known  of  one  or  two  i)airs  remaining  in  the 
salt-marshes  of  Cape  May  the  whole  summer  ;  and  they  were 
l)elieved  to  nest  there  on  the  gromid,  laying  four  eggs  in  size 
and  color  much  resembling  those  of  the  Clapper  Rail.  In- 
deed, it  will  pro])ably  be  found  that  many  birds  now  supposed 
to  pass  the  period  of  rei^roduction  in  the  remote  regions  of 


I 


I.ONOIMI.LKI)   CI  Kl.KW. 


119 


rufous 

1)1,kU  ; 

rcssion, 

(1r.\l)  to 
,  spotted 

CSV  jer- 

th,  ami 
rn  from 
;  course 
,0  (lonV)t, 
)V)scrvc(l 
arlt-'ston, 
1  proba- 
f.     1  -il^e 
regions 
lit  it  fre- 
iinbia  at 
[hootl   of 
•ars  that 
I'  Illinois, 
supposed 
few  in- 
ng  in  the 
hL-y  were 
Its  in  size 
.ail.     Tn- 
Isupposed 
legions  of 


the  North  only  separate  into  solitary  pairs,  and  disperse  them- 
selves through  the  va?,t  wilds  of  the  interior  of  North  Anierica. 
The  l.ong-billed  Curlews  Hy  high  and  rapidly,  geiuTilly 
throwing  themselves,  when  in  company,  into  an  angular  wedgi'. 
alter  the  manner  of  \\'ild  (leese.  uttering,  as  they  lly,  and  whiii 
at  all  ala.nied,  a  loud,  short,  whistling,  and  almost  barking 
note,  sometimes,  as  in  other  species  of  the  family,  strongly  re- 
sembling the  sibilation  of  the  word  /v/z/ti',  and  whenci-  they 
derive  their  characteristic  name,  which  has  been  adopted  into 
so  many  of  the  lOtiropean  languages.  l»y  a  dexterous  imitation 
of  this  note  a  whole  llix  k  may  sometimes  be  enticed  within  gim- 
shot  ;  and  the  cries  of  the  woumled  continue  the  sympathetic 
enticement,  while  the  fowler,  re])eating  his  shots,  carries  havoc 
among  the  t|uailing  throng.  Their  food  consists  i)rincipally 
of  insects,  worms,  and  small  crabs.  'The  yotmg  and  old  also, 
on  their  arrival  from  the  North,  where  they  feed  on  various 
kinds  of  berries,  still  continue  their  fondness  for  this  kind  of 
food,  and  now  fre(itient  the  tiplands  and  i)astures  in  (Hii'st  of 
the  fruit  of  the  bramble,  particularly  dewberries,  on  which  they 
get  so  remarkably  fat  at  times  as  to  btirst  the  skin  in  falling  to 
the  ground,  and  are  then  stiperior  in  flavor  to  almost  any  other 
game-bird  of  the  season.  In  the  market  of  IJoston  they  are 
seen  as  early  as  the  8th  of  August,  having  already  raised  their 
brood  and  i)rocceded  thus  far  towards  their  winter-quarters. 

The  .Sickle-l)ill  is  an  abundant  bird  from  the  Tacific  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi; hut  eastward  of  that  river  it  is  common  only  ui  the  South- 
cm  .States  and  around  the  (ireat  Lakes;  while  in  New  ICngland  it 
is  (piite  rare,  and  occurs  chicHy  during  the  autumn  mii^nation.  In 
the  West  it  ranges  to  tiie  Saskatchewan  valley,  about  latitude  55''; 
hut  on  the  Atlantic  it  has  not  been  taken  north  of  baie  de  Ch  ileur, 
on  the  (iiilf  of  St.  Lawrence. 

(.^ur  Eastern  birds  proliably  raise  their  broods  in  the  region  ly- 
ing immediately  south  of  Hudson  P>ay,  and  then  journe\-  eastward 
through  the  valleys  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  its  tributaries  until 
reaching  the  sea.  along  which  tlie  birds  ])roceed  to  their  winter 
quarters  in  the  West  Indies. 

Mr.  George  A.  Boardman  heard  a  report  several  vears  ago  that 
this  species  had  been  discovered  breeding  on  i'riiice  ICd ward's 
Island;  but  this  has  not  been  confirmed  by  recent  ol)servations. 


r  ' 


I  , 


%■     ' 


HUDSON  IAN   CURLEW. 

JACK  CURLEW. 

NUMENIUS    HUDSOMCUS. 

Char.  Upper  parts  blackish  brown  mottled  with  buflf,  the  latter  pre- 
vailing  on  the  wing-coverts;  wings  dusky;  crown  dusky  brown,  with 
median  -itripe  of  buff;  stripe  of  brosvn  on  side  of  head  ■,  rest  of  head,  neck, 
and  under  parts  light  buff ;  breast  spotted  with  brown.  Length  about  17 
inches. 

A'c'sf.  Usually  near  the  margin  of  a  lake  or  stream  :  a  slight  depression, 
lined  with  grass  or  leaves. 

-^vV^-  3~4  ■>  drab  with  a  tint  of  green  or  buff,  marked  with  several 
shades  of  brown  ,  2.25  X  1.60 

The  Short- Billed  Curlew,  after  passing  the  winter  south  of 
the  United  States,  arrives  in  large  flocks  on  the  coast  of  New 
Jersey  early  in  May,  frequenting  the  salt-niarshes,  muddy 
ponds,  shoals,  and  inlets,  feeding  at  this  time  on  small  worms, 
land  and  marine  insects,  fry,  minute  shell-fish,  and  some- 
times the  seeds  of  aquatic  vegetables,  which  it  usually  col- 
lects at  the  recess  of  the  tide  in  company  with  various  other 


HUDSONIAN   CURLEW. 


121 


waders,  and  at  high  water  retires  into  the  marshes,  and  some- 
times to  the  dry  ridges  and  pastures,  particularly  at  a  later 
period,  in  June,  where,  accompanied  by  the  Long-Billed  spe- 
cies, it  feeds  much  on  dewberries,  becoming  very  fat  and 
well  flavored.  In  the  northern  regions  and  the  fur  countries, 
to  which  these  birds  retire  to  breed,  they  also  collect  crowber- 
ries  {Empetrum  nij^non)  for  food.  In  June  they  take  their 
departure  to  the  North  ;  collecting  together  from  the  marshes 
in  one  general  flock,  they  rise  to  a  considerable  elevation  about 
an  hour  before  sunset,  and  forming  a  long  angular  phalanx, 
keep  up  a  constant  whistling  on  their  march,  as  if  conversing 
with  each  other,  in  order  to  forget  or  lessen  the  toil  and 
hazard  of  their  adventurous  journey.  Their  flight  is  steady, 
like  that  of  the  Woodcock,  and  in  consequence  of  their 
sympathy  for  each  other,  they  readily  come  within  gunshot  of 
those  who  can  imitate  their  call.  While  thus  beating  the  air 
m  company,  the  transient  glittering  of  their  speckled  wings,  as 
they  glide  along  in  ease  and  elegance,  presents  an  interesting 
spectacle  no  less  beautiful  than  amusing.  Arriving,  at  length, 
in  their  natal  regions  in  the  wilds  of  the  North,  they  soon  obey 
the  instinct  of  their  spe»  es,  and  making  a  nest  on  the  ground, 
lay  about  four  eggs,  which,  according  to  Mr.  Hutchins,  are  of  a 
light  bluish-gray  color,  marked  with  black  (or  dark-brown) 
spots.  From  the  middle  of  August  to  the  beginning  of  Sep- 
tember they  arrive  in  the  vicinity  of  Massachusetts  Bay  and 
other  parts  of  New  F^ngland,  frequenting  the  pastures  as  well 
as  marshes,  and  fatten  upon  grasshoppers  and  berries  till  the 
time  of  their  departure,  about  the  close  of  September ;  and 
they  wholly  disappear  from  New  Jersey  on  their  way  to  the 
South,  early  in  the  month  of  November.  Previous  to  their 
departure  they  again  assemble  in  large  flocks  near  the  sea- 
beach,  being  constantly  gregarious  in  all  their  journeys.  In  an 
island  of  the  Piscataqua,  near  Plymouth  (New  Hampshire),  a 
friend  informs  me  that  they  had,  in  the  autumn,  been  seen  to- 
gether in  a  dense  flock  of  many  thousands,  thickly  covering 
several  acres  of  ground  with  their  numbers. 

W'hen  much  hunted,  they  become  extremely  shy  and  diffi- 


"  r 


•,i 


K 


f  •■ 


122 


WADING   BIRDS. 


cult  to  approach ;  yet  the  same  bird,  shot  at  three  or  four 
different  times,  and  recovering  when  about  to  be  picked  up, 
still,  notwithstanding  this  persecution,  continued  to  feed  again 
in  the  same  spot.  These  birds,  though  so  exquisite  in  flavor, 
in  the  autumn,  when  as  abundant  as  usual,  are  sold  in  Boston 
market  for  about  twenty  to  twenty- five  cents  each.  As  early 
as  the  1 8th  of  July  I  have  met  with  individuals  of  this  species, 
one  of  which  on  dissection  proved  to  be  an  old  and  barren 
male  who  in  all  probability  had  remained  behind  the  flock  in 
the  same  vicinitj'  where  he  had  arrived  in  the  spring,  having 
no  incentive  to  .migration.  Whether  other  specimens,  killeil 
at  this  season  before  the  return  of  the  general  flock,  are  influ 
enced  by  the  same  cause  to  hnger  behind  or  wander  from  the 
rest,  I  am  unable  to  say. 

The  Jack  Curlew  is  well  known  to  gunners  along  the  Atlantic 
coast,  wiiere  it  occurs  during  both  migrations.  The  flocks  do  not 
cross  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  but  follow  the  southern  shore  till 
well  inland,  when  they  fly  nortli  to  Hudson  Bay  and  the  Barren 
Lands,   near  the  Arctic  Ocean,  wlicre  they  breed. 

A  few  stragglers  from  the  main  flocks  have  been  taken  in  Lab- 
rador and  Greenland,  and  a  few  wander  inland  through  Ohio  and 
the  Eastern  States. 


ESKIMO   CURT.EW. 

SHORT-BILLED   CURLEW,     DOUGIIBIRD. 
NUMF.NILS    liOREALIS. 

(ir  AR  Upper  parf^  hlackisb  brown,  spotted  with  buff;  crown  streaked, 
but  without  di.stinct  ,,:cdian  line;  under  parts  liylit  buff  ;  neck,  breast,  and 
sides  strealxed  c)r  sjxxted  with  chisky.     Length  about  14  inches. 

Much  like  // W.w//V//.f,  bn t  e.isily  distinguished,  l>ore,ilis  being  of  •^mailer 
size,  with  a  shorter  bill,  and  lacking  the  light-colored  streak  across  the 
crown. 

Nesl.  Amid  the  rocks  of  dry  ridges,  .adjacent  to  lakes  and  ponds;  a 
slight  dei)res<ion,  lined  with  grass  and  leaves. 

Ri^'-s.  3-4;  filive,  with  a  tinge  of  green  or  brown  predominating, 
marked  with  several  shades  of  brown  ;  2.05  X  1.45 

The  Small  Curlew  in  the  course  of  its  vast  migrations  occa- 
sionally visits   almost   every  part  of  the  American  continent. 


ESKIMO  CURLEW 


123 


ids:  a 
lating, 


penetrating  even  into  the  remote  territories  of  the  west,  cours- 
ing along  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and  extending  its 
wanderings  into  the  southern  hemisphere  as  far  as  Brazil  and 
Paraguay.  These  birds  arrive  at  Hudson  Bay  in  Ajiril  or  early 
in  May,  but  breed  to  the  north  of  Albany  Fort,  returning  to 
the  marshes  with  their  young  in  August,  and  retire  from  that 
country  early  in  September.  Indeed,  accompanied  jirobably 
by  the  preceding,  they  frequent  in  summer  the  wide  e.vtent  of 
Barren  T>ands  within  the  Arctic  circle,  feeding  usually  on  aqua- 
tic insects,  their  larvoe,  and  when  ripe,  the  fruit  of  the  crow- 
berry  {Empctnnn  nigrum).  On  the  13th  of  June,  1822,  Dr. 
Richardson  discovered  one  of  these  Curlews  sitting  on  three 
eggs  on  the  shore  of  Point  Lake.  When  approached,  she  ran  a 
short  distance  from  the  nest,  crouching  near  to  the  ground, 
and  then  stopped  to  watch  the  motions  of  her  encroaching 
visitor. 

About  the  close  of  August  or  beginning  of  September  these 
Curlews,  accompanied  by  birds  of  the  preceding  species,  arrive 
on  the  shores  of  Massachusetts  Bay ;  and  frequenting  the 
marshes  and  adjoining  pastures,  feed  at  tliis  time  much  upon 
grasshoppers,  coleoptera,  and  earth-worms,  which  they  collect 
principally  towards  evening  or  early  in  the  morning.  On  their 
way  to  the  South  they  also  \isit  Nova  Scotia  and  Newfound- 
land, where  they  remain  till  the  approach  of  winter  ;  and  in 
New  Jersey  these  birds  linger  on  till  the  month  of  November, 
when  they  apparently,  without  further  delay,  pass  on  to  the 
south  of  the  United  States,  for  in  other  parts  of  the  Union  they 
appear  to  be  wholly  unknown.  Like  the  other  species,  they 
are  remarkably  gregarious,  each  company  seeming  to  follow 
some  temporary  leader ;  and  on  starting  to  wing,  a  sort  of 
watch-cry  is  heard,  resembling  the  whistling  ])rontmciation  of 
the  word  bcc-hec.  On  their  arrival  from  the  North  they  are 
very  fat,  plump,  and  well  flavored,  and  included,  like  both  the 
preceding  species  and  the  ^^arble(l  (lodwit,  under  the  general 
name  of  Docbinis,  they  are  sought  out  by  ei)icures  and  en- 
hance the  value  of  a  tabl-  entertainment.  Pennant  remarks, 
on  the  authority  of  Hutchins,  that  one  year,  from  the  9th  of 


124 


WAUING   BIRDS. 


' 


I 


August  to  the  6th  of  September,  they  were  seen  in  flocks  innu- 
merable on  the  hills  about  Clhatteux  Bay,  on  the  coast  of  Lab- 
rador, soon  after  which  they  all  departed  for  the  South ;  at 
this  time  they  kept  chiefly  on  the  open  grounds,  and  feeding 
on  crowberries,  were  very  fat  and  well  flavored. 

A  few  of  these  birds  migrate  northward  along  the  Atlantic  coast, 
and  some  wander  Ijy  the  way  of  the  (jreat  Lakes ;  Ijut  the  route 
taken  by  the  majority  is  up  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  across 
the  plains,  where  they  have  been  met  with  in  "immense  Hocks" 
during  May.  They  spend  the  summer  on  the  Barren  Lands  within 
the  Arctic  circle,  and  after  raising  their  broods,  start  on  the  migra- 
tion southward,  crossing  to  Labrador,  where  several  naturalists 
have  found  them  in  great  abundance.  But  though  so  abundant  m 
that  region,  comparatively  few  pass  southward  through  the  Maritime 
Provinces,  and  they  are  reported  as  uncommon  all  along  the 
Atlantic  shore  of  the  United  States ;  so  it  is  supposed  that  the 
larger  number  fly  direct  from  Labrador  to  South  America,  over 
which  country  they  roam  during  the  winter,  ranging  to  its  south- 
ernmost point. 

Dr.  Coues,  who  met  with  large  numbers  of  these  birds  in  Labra- 
dor, states  that  their  principal  food  was  crowberry,  or  "  curlew- 
berry,"  as  the  natives  call  it ;  but  they  also  fed  extensively  on  a 
small  snail  which  adhered  to  the  rocks  on  the  sea-shore  and  were 
left  uncovered  at  low  tide. 


■; 


CURLEW   SANDPIPER. 
Tringa  ferruginea. 

Char.  Bill  long,  slender,  and  decurved.  Adult  in  summer  upper 
parts  mottled  Ijlack,  gray,  and  rufous;  wings  and  tail  ashy  gray;  tail- 
covcrts  pale  buflf  Ixured  with  black;  under  parts  rich  chestnut.  Adult  in 
winter:  u])per  parts  grayish  brown;  tail-coverts  white;  under  |)arts 
white  ;  chest  with  a  few  indistinct  streaks  of  gray.  Young  :  like  adult  in 
winter,  but  feathers  of  upper  parts  margined  with  buff;  neck  streaked 
with  brown.     Length  about  S^  inches. 

/\V.f/.  On  the  margin  of  a  lake  or  stream;  a  slight  depression,  lined 
with  dry  grass. 

Ac^f-  —  ?»  "  P'llc  grayish  or  greenish  buffy,  spotted  with  deeji  brown, 
etc.;  1.50  X  \.0^"  (Nidi^'ivay). 

Of  this  species  very  little  is  known.  It  is  found  on  the  sea- 
coast  and  by  the  borders  of  lakes,  and  is  sometimes  seen  in  the 
interior  of  the  countries  it  frequents.  Eike  most  species  of  the 
genus,  it  is  migratory  in  the  spring  and  autiunn,  and  at  such 
times  proceeds  in  flocks  along  the  coast  or  on  the  borders  of 
large  rivers.  The  food  of  this  bird  is  usually  small  insects 
and  worms,  as  well  as  the  herbage  of  some  of  the  sea  weeds 
{Fiici).  So  wide  are  the  devious  wanderings  of  this  cos- 
mopolite pigmy   that    Temminck   obtained  a  specimen  from 


126 


WADING    lilRDS. 


■'    I 


P 


Senegal,  another  from  the  Cape  of  (lood  Hope  (as  is  also 
indicated  by  Latham's  name  of  the  Cape  Curlew),  and  a  third 
from  North  America. 

The  Curlew  Sandpiper  is  not  an  uncommon  bird  in  Europe;  but, 
exceptinij  in  (]recnland  and  Alaska,  very  few  examples  have  been 
met  with  in  America,  and  those  few  were  seen  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  tluring  the  migrations.  It  is  supposed  to  breed  throughout 
the  entire  Arctic  regions,  but  of  its  nesting  habits  very  little  is 
known. 

Though  an  exceedingly  active  bird,  when  feeding,  it  proceeds 
cpiite  leisurely  with  its  migrations,  and  wliile  on  these  journeys 
frt'iiuents  the  salt-marshes  and  the  tide-washed  sandbar.-)  near  the 
mouths  of  rivers. 

In  many  habits  and  in  flight  it  resembles  the  Dunlin,  for  which  it 
is  often  mistaken.  Thi.s  mistake  is  lial)le  to  be  made  in  winter, 
when  the  plumage  of  the  two  are  very  similar.  In  summer  dress 
our  bird  appears  somewhat  like  a  small  edition  of  the  Knot. 


;!■  i 


DUNLIN. 


RED-BACKED    SANDPIPER. 

BLACK-BKE.AST.     ISL.ACK-BELLIED   SANDPIPER. 
BLACK-HEART.     WINTER   SNIPE. 


Tringa  .M.PINA   RACIFIC.A. 

Ch.\u.  Adult  in  .-summer:  upper  parts  chestnut,  streaked  with  black  ; 
win,u;s  and  tail  asliy  gray ;  throat  and  breast  grayish  white  with  dark 
streaks;  lower  breast  black  ;  belly  white.  Adult  in  winter:  upper  parts 
brownish  gray  or  ashy  gray  ;  under  parts  white,  neck  and  chest  streaked 
sparingly  with  gray.  In  young  birds  the  feathers  on  the  upper  parts  are 
bordered  with  rufous  or  buff,  the  to]-)  of  the  head  is  light  ehestnut  and 
black,  and  the  under  parts  are  white,  spotted  with  black.  Length  S  to  8'^ 
inches. 

At'j/.  Amid  long  grass  on  a  salt-marsh  or  beneath  a  bunch  of  heather 
on  a  moor  or  hillside,  —  a  slight  depression,  lined  with  grass,  leaves,  or 
moss. 

/i,i^:i[s.     4;  dull  buff  tinged  with  brown  or  olive,  marked  with  chestnut; 

1,45  X   I. GO. 

The  Dunlin,  or  Red-backed  Sandpiper,  of  the  United  States, 
according  to  the  season  of  the  year,  is  met  with  throughout 
the  northern  hemisphere,  penetrating,  in  .America,  during  the 
stmimer  season,  to  the  utmost  habitable  verge  of  the  Arctic 


RED -BACKED   SANDl'U'ER. 


127 


lates, 

Ihout 

the 

Irctic 


Circle,  and  even  breeding  in  that  remotest  of  lands,  the  ever- 
wintry  shores  of  Melville  IVninsula.  1 1  likewise  inhabits 
(Ireenland,  Icelantl,  Scandinavia,  the  Alps  of  Siberia,  and  the 
coasts  of  the  Caspian.  In  the  southern  hemisphere  it  some 
times  even  wanders  as  far  as  the  Cape  of  (lood  Hope,  and  is 
found  in  Jamaica,  other  of  the  West  India  islamis,  and  Cayenne. 
In  the  autumn  it  is  seen  around  Vera  Cruz,  and,  with  other 
Sandpipers  probably,  is  exposed  for  sale  in  the  markets  of  Mex 
ICO.  .\t  the  same  time  many,  as  the  I'urres,  in  their  winter 
dress,  remain  through  the  greatest  part  of  the  wint»'r  within  the 
milder  limits  of  the  Union,  fre(iuenting  at  times  in  great  num- 
bers the  coasts  of  both  Carolinas  during  the  month  of  Feb- 
ruary, flitting  ])robably  to  and  fro  with  every  vacillating 
change  of  temperature,  being  naturally  vagabond  and  nowhere 
fixed  for  any  considerable  time  until  their  arrival  at  the 
Ultima  I'hule  of  the  continent,  where  they  barely  stay  long 
enough  to  rear  a  single  brood,  destined,  as  soon  as  they  are 
able,  to  wander  with  the  rest  and  swell  the  aerial  host,  whose 
sole  delight,  like  the  untiring  Petrels  of  the  storm  or  the 
ambitious  .Albatross,  is  to  be  in  per])etual  action,  and  are 
thus,  by  their  associated  numbers,  obliged  ])erpetually  to  rove 
in  quest  of  their  transient,  periodical,  and  varying  ])rey 

In  the  Middle  States  the  Dunlins  arrive  on  their  way  to  the 
North  in  .April  and  May,  and  in  September  and  October  they 
are  again  seen  pursuing  the  route  to  their  hibernal  retreat  in 
the  South.  At  these  times  they  often  mingle  with  the  flocks 
of  other  strand  birds,  from  which  they  are  distinguishable  by 
the  rufous  color  of  their  upper  plumage.  They  frequent  the 
muddy  flats  and  shores  of  the  salt-marshes  at  the  recess  of  the 
tide,  feeding  on  the  worms,  insects,  and  minute  shell-fish 
which  such  places  generally  afford.  They  are  also  very  nimble 
on  the  strand,  frequenting  the  sandy  beaches  which  bound  the 
ocean,  running,  and  gleaning  up  their  prey  with  great  activity 
on  the  reflux  of  the  waves. 

These  birds  when  in  their  hibernal  dress  are   seen,  in  con 
junction  with  several  species,  sometimes  collecting  together  in 
such  flocks  as  to  seem  at  a  distance  like  a  moving  cloud,  vary- 


128 


WADLNCi   niRDS. 


I  i 


ing  in  form  and  appearance  every  instant  while  they  perform 
tiieir  circuitous,  waving,  and  whirling  evolutions  along  the 
shores  with  great  rapidity ;  alternately  bringing  their  dark  and 
white  plumage  into  view,  they  form  a  very  grand  and  imposing 
spectacle  of  the  sublime  instinct  and  power  of  Nature.  At 
such  times,  however,  the  keen  gunner,  without  losing  mucli 
time  in  empty  contemplation,  makes  prodigious  slaughter  in 
the  timid  ranks  of  the  Purres ;  while  as  the  showers  of  their 
companions  faW,  the  whole  body  often  alight  or  descend  to  the 
surface  with  them,  until  the  greedy  sportsman  becomes  satiated 
with  destruction. 

The  Dunlins  breed  plentifully  on  the  Arctic  coasts  of  Amer- 
ica, nesting  on  the  ground  in  the  herbage,  laying  three  or  four 
very  large  eggs  of  an  oil-green,  marked  with  irregular  spots  of 
liver-brown  of  different  sizes  and  shades,  confluent  at  the 
larger  end.  Mr.  Pennant  also  received  the  eggs  of  this  kind 
from  Denmark,  so  that  the  range  in  which  they  breed,  no  less 
than  that  in  which  they  migrate,  is  very  extensive. 

This  species,  still  abundant  throughout  the  continent,  and  breed- 
ing in  the  Far  North,  is  called  "Winter  Snipe"  by  the  gunners  of 
New  Jersey  and  southward  ;  but  that  name  is  given  by  the  New 
Englanders  to  the  Purple  Sandpiper,  which  is  not  seen  farther 
south.  The  names  Ox-bird  and  Purre,  given  to  the  present  spe- 
cies by  Nuttall,  were  the  names  by  which  the  summer  and  winter 
phases  of  the  Dunlin  were  designated  formerly  by  English  writers. 


I 


l[r. 


Note.  —  The  European  Dunlin  (  7>/;/^rt  alpina)  is  smaller 
than  the  American  race,  and  of  a  duller  tint.  It  occurs  in  Green- 
land and  breeds  tliere,  and  an  occasional  example  wanders  to  tlie 
shores  of  Hudson  Bay. 


WHITE-RUMPED   SANDI'II'EU. 


129 


VVHITE-RUMPKI)   SANDPIPER. 

BONAPARTE'S    tJANDPlPEK. 

Tringa  fuscicollis. 

Char.  Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  striped  with  black  and  tinged  with 
rufous  J  wings  ashy  brown  ;  rump  brownish  ash  ,  upper  tail-coverts  while  ; 
tail  grayish  brown,  the  two  middle  feathers  darker ;  under  parts  white, 
the  breast  washed  with  gray.  In  winter  the  ujjper  parts  are  entirely 
brownish  gray,  liili  short  and  blackish  brown,  paler  at  the  base  ;  legs 
brownish  olive.     Length  about  7^2  inches. 

Neil.  On  a  low  lying  sea-shore  or  near  the  muddy  margin  of  a  lake  or 
stream  close  by  the  sea,  —  a  slight  depression,  lined  with  dead  leaves. 

Z;'<,x^.  4 ;  olive  or  olive  brown  or  grayish  buff,  marked  with  chestnut 
and  dark  brown ;  sometimes  marked  also  with  pale  brown  and  purplish 
gray  ;  i  35  X  o  95. 

This  species,  so  nearly  related  to  the  preceding,  is  also  com- 
mon to  both  continents,  penetrating  inland  in  America  to  the 
western  plains  of  the  Mississippi,  and  inhabiting  the  shores  of 
the  small  lakes  which  skirt  the  plains  of  the  Saskatchewan, 
and  probably  the  remoter  wilds  of  the  Arctic  circle.  Accord- 
ing to  Bonaparte  these  birds  are  rather  common  on  the  coast 
of  New  Jersey  m  autumn,  and  Mr.  Oakes  met  with  several  in 
the  vicinity  of  Ipswich,  in  Massachusetts.  They  are  either  seen 
in  flocks  by  themselves  or  accompanying  other  Sand])ipcrs, 
which  they  entirely  resemble  in  their  habits  and  focxl,  fre- 
quenting marshy  shores  and  the  borders  of  lakes  and  brackish 
waters.  They  associate  in  the  breeding-season,  and  are  then 
by  no  means  shy  ;  but  during  autumn,  accompanying  different 
birds,  they  become  wild  and  restless.  Their  voice  resembles 
that  of  the  Dunlin,  but  is  more  feeble ;  and  they  nest  near 
their  usual  haunts,  by  lakes  and  marshes. 

This  is  the  Scliinz's  Sandpiper  of  Nuttall  and  Bonaparte.  It  is 
a  common  bird  in  eastern  North  America,  migrating  northward 
along  the  .Mississippi  valley  as  well  as  by  the  Atlantic  coast,  and 
breeding  in  the  Arctic  regions,  —  from  Lal)rador  to  the  Polar  Sea. 

During  the  migrations  numbers  of  these  birds  appear  along  the 
New  England  shores  in  company  with  several  of   their  smaller 
allies,  from  which  they  are  readily  distinguished  by  their  con.spic 
VOL.   II.  —  9 


'f 


J 


3 


130 


WADING   BIRDS. 


uous  white  tail-coverts.     Their  note,  also,  is  peculiar,  —  a  low  soft 
•weet 

In  habits  they  differ  little  from  other  Sandpipers,  —  a  little  more 
confiding  and  heedless  perhaps,  and  more  frecpiently  found  on  the 
mud-Hats  and  among  the  sea-weed  than  on  the  sand. 


PECTORAL  SANI )I'IFI:R. 

JACK  SNII'E.      GRASS   SNll'i:.      KRIEKER. 
TklNdA    MACULAIA. 

Chau.  Upper  !)arts  dusky  brown,  the  feathers  margined  with  biitf  and 
rufous;  rump  and  tail-coverts  dusky;  cheeks  antl  tliroat  dull  white 
.stre.d<ed  with  brown  ;  breast  buffy  gray  streaked  witii  iliisky  ;  chin  and 
beliv  wiiite.  In  winter  the  pluniage  is  plain  gray  and  white,  sometimes 
tinged  with  pale  rufous  and  buff.     Length  about  S;'4  inches. 

.Wst.     Amid  a  tuft  of  grass  on  a  dry  mound  or  iiill  side. 

Egg^.  4 ;  pale  buff,  greenish  drab,  or  olive  brown,  thickly  blotched 
with  rich  red  brown ;  1  50  X  i  05. 

This  conspicuous  species  of  Sandpiper,  first  detected  by 
Mr.  Say,  is  by  no  means  uncommon  in  various  ])arts  of  the 
United  States,  migrating  north,  and  perhaps  west,  to  breed, 
as  it  is  common  in  the  remote  plains  of  the  Mississippi,  'i'hese 
birds  have  been  kille<l  in  abundance  on  the  shores  of  Cohasset 
and  in  other  parts  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  brought  to  the 
markets  of  Boston,  being  very  fat  and  well  flavored.  They 
arrive  in  flocks  about  the  close  of  August,  and  continue  here, 
as  well  as  in  New  Jersey,  till  the  month  of  September,  and 
perhaps  into  October.  In  some  instances  solitary  indivi(hials 
have  been  killed  in  the  marshes  of  Charles  River,  in  Cam- 
bridge, about  the  2 2d  of  July.  I'hese  were  in  company  with 
the  flocks  of  small  Sandpii)ers  ;  but  whether  pairs  may  perhaps 
breed  in  the  neighboring  marshes  or  not,  we  ha\e  not  had  the 
means  of  ascertaining. 

While  here,  they  feed  on  small  coleoptera,  larvae,  and  the 
common  green  Ulva  lattissii/ia,  as  well  as  some  species  of 
Fiicus,  or  sea-weeci,  on  which  they  become  very  fat.  They 
utter  a  low,  plaintive  whistle  when  started,  very  similar  to  that 


ed  by 
of  the 
breed, 
These 
)h  asset 
to  the 
i'hey 
here, 
r,  and 
iduals 
Cam- 
y  with 
erhaps 
ad  the 

lui  the 
:ies  of 
They 
to  that 


PECTORAI,   SAN  DIM  PER. 


•31 


of  sonic  other  species.  Like  the  Snipe,  they  seem  fond  of 
damp  meadows  and  marshes,  and  st)htary  individuals  are  often 
surprised  by  the  sportsman  in  the  manner  of  that  bird. 

Tlie  Pectoral  Saiuljjiper  l)rceils  in  the  Arctic  and  subarctic  re- 
gions of  North  America,  —  from  CJreenland  to  Ala.ska,  and  in 
winter  retires  to  the  We.st  Indie.s  and  southward.  Lartje  Mocks  of 
these  birds  migrate  nortii  and  .south  across  tiie  jirairies  and  tluouyli 
the  valley  of  the  great  rivers  of  the  West,  but  along  the  Atlantic  sea 
board  only  a  scattered  few  are  seen  in  the  .s])ring,  though  during 
the  early  autumn  they  appear  in  numbers.  While  on  our  coasts 
they  mingle  sociably  with  other  small  Sandpipers,  but  some  of  their 
manners  and  habits  suggest  the  Snipe  rather  than  the  Sandpiper. 
They  fretpient  the  salt-marshes  and  sea.side  meadows  more  than  the 
sandy  beaches,  aiul  the  erratic  tliglit  of  a  Hock  when  suddenly 
flushed    is   peculiarly    Snipe-like. 

Nothing  definite  was  known  of  the  breeding  hal)its  of  these 
birds  until  recently,  when  our  naturalists  discovered  them  nesting 
in  Alaska.  Muiilock  found  numbers  at  Point  Barrow;  then  Nel- 
son made  a  study  of  them  at  St,  Michael's  in  1^79;  and  in  1883  the 
menil)iMs  of  lieutenant  I-iay's  part)  at  Point  P>arrow  were  fortunate 
enough  to  secure  several  nests  with  eggs. 

In  the  mating  season,  which  occurs  after  they  have  reached  the 
vicinity  of  their  nesting  ground,  the  males  become  intensely  excited 
in  their  efforts  to  gain  the  attention  of  the  females  and  to  keep  near 
to  one  chosen  for  a  mate.  They  run  along  Uie  sand  with  wings  exten- 
ded, or  take  short  flights  close  to  the  ground,  passing  to  and  fro 
in  front  of  the  amo'ita,  or  whirling  in  graceful  curves  in  the  air 
above  her,  a!!  the  while  uttering  a  deep  and  hollow  booming,  which 
resembles  hoo,  Iioo,  hoo,  hoo,  or  too-u,  too-n,  too-u,  rapidly  repeated 
in  licpiid  musical  tones.  "Whenever  he  pursues  his  love-making," 
says  Mr.  Nelson,  "his  rather  low  but  pervading  note  swells  and 
dies  in  musical  cadences,  which  form  a  striking  part  of  the  great 
bird  chorus  heard  at  this  season  in  the  North."  During  these  per- 
formances the  throat  and  breast  are  filled  with  air  and  puffed  out 
to  twice  their  natural  extent,  —  whence  the  name  Pectoral.  When 
not  thus  inflated,  the  air-sac  hangs  an  inch  or  more  below  the  gen- 
eral contour  of  the  neck.  While  with  us  these  I)irds  do  not  display 
this  inflated  breast,  and  the  onlv  note  we  hear  from  them  is  a  low 
soft  tweet. 


If 


!^i 


^lii^^l/,; . 


BUFF-BRP:ASrED   SANDPIPIIR. 

TrYNGITKS   SUHRUFICOI.LIS. 

Char.  Uiiper  parts  yellowish  hrnwn  mottled  with  black  ,  central  tail- 
feathers  {greenish  jjlack,  others  paler  and  barred  towards  the  tips  j  under 
parts  bulfish  with  a  rufous  tinge,  the  linings  of  the  wings  paler  and  beau- 
tifully marbled  with  black;  breast  with  a  few  dark  spots.  Length  about 
8  inches. 

jVest.  On  a  knoll  in  a  grassy  plain  or  near  a  river  bank, — a  slight 
depression  lined  with  a  little  moss  or  grass,  or  a  few  leaves. 

Ex^^i,^!-  4  ;  pale  reddish  buff  sometimes  tinged  with  olive,  profusely 
marked  with  lavender  and  rich  reddish  brown  of  several  shades;  1.45 
X  1.00. 

This  elegant  species,  some  seasons,  is  not  uncommon  in 
the  market  of  Boston  in  the  month  of  August  and  September, 
being  met  with  near  the  capes  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  My 
friend  Mr.  Cooper  has  also  obtained  specimens  from  the 
vicinity  of  New  York  ;  and  it  was  first  discovered  by  Veil- 
lot  in  the  then  Territory  of  Louisiana,  so  that,  coursing  along 
the  shores  of  the  Mississippi,  and  thus  penetrating  inland,  it 
probably  proceeds,  as  well  as  in  the  vicinity  of  the  sea-coast, 
to  its  northern  destination  to  breed,  and  is  often  here  associ- 
ated with  the  Pectoral  Sandpiper,  which  it  resembles  very 
much  in  size  and  bill,  though  perfectly  distinct  in  plumage.   As 


( 


I 


;  If 


HUll-UULASTLD   SANDril'KK. 


i^i 


itral  tail- 

s;  under 

nd  beau- 

th  about 

slight 

Uofusely 
lies;  145 


a  proof  how  wide  it  wanders,  this  species  has  also  been  rarely 
obtained  even  in  France  and  lOngland,  and  a  specimen  figured 
in  the  J,inna;an  Transactions  of  London  is  there  given  as  a 
new  addition  to  the  fauna  of  (Ireat  llritain.  It  was  shot  in 
September,  1826,  in  the  parisii  of  Melbourne,  Cambridgeshire, 
in  company  with  the  Siberian  Plover,  or  (Juignard  {C/ianu/rius 
morincllii's') . 

Its  food  while  here  consists  principally  of  land  and  marine 
insects,  particularly  grasshoppers,  which,  abounding  in  tiie 
autumn,  become  the  favorite  prey  of  a  variety  of  birds ;  even 
the  Turnstone  at  this  season,  laying  asiile  his  arduous  employ- 
ment, is  now  content  to  feed  u[)on  these  swarming  and  easily 
acquired  insects. 

This  Sandpipur  is  distril)ute(l  tluougliout  North  America,  breed- 
ing in  Arctic  and  Sub-arctic:  rej^ions.  It  is  a  ratiier  rare  visitor  to 
this  northeastern  section,  lliouj^Ii  more  frequently  seen  in  the 
autunui  tlian  (hiring  tlie  spring  migrations,  the  bulk  of  the  flocks 
going  north  by  the  western  inland  routes,  and  nesting  on  the  dry 
plains  in  the  Uarren  (Iround  region,  adjacent  to  tiic  Mackenzie  and 
Anderson  Rivers.  These  birds  must  migrate  \ '  ry  rapidly  and 
make  but  few  halts;  for  while  they  are  quite  a'  undant  on  their 
nesting-ground,  they  are  rarely  seen  while  migrating.  They  range 
in  winter  through  the  West  Indies  and  southward  as  far  as  Brazil 
and  Peru. 

The  lUiff-breasted  Sandpiper  is  a  bird  of  the  dry  upland  rather 
than  of  the  marsh  or  the  sandy  beach.  Its  principal  food  consists 
of  insects,  —  beetles,  grasshoppers,  and  such;  but  it  varies  its  diet 
with  small  marine  forms,  and  does  not  object  to  an  occasional 
meal  of  small  fruit  and  berries.  The  birds  are  very  tame,  and  are 
usually  met  with  in  small  flocks  of  ten  or  fifteen.  The  note,  which 
is  generally  heard  as  the  bird  rises  from  the  ground,  is  a  low  iweet, 
repeated  several  times. 


s^ 


I  -A  ■? 


I    i  ^ 


s   I 


i'if*!^" 


f  ■   i 


I    I 


I! 


I 


It' 


i;  I 


PURPLK    SANDPII'KR. 

WINTER   SNIPE      ROCK    SNII'E. 

Tkixcja  m.\riii.\i\. 

CllAK.  Distinguished  frniii  oiIilt  Sandpipers  by  its  sliort  legs,  short 
thiclv  ljod\',  and  darl<  color.  Adult  in  summer  :  upi)Lr  parts  brownish  grav, 
darker  on  tlie  back,  which  is  spotted  with  rufous  and  Ijut'tisli  white  ;  rum]) 
and  ccntial  tail-feather-i  dull  brown,  outer  tail-t'eatliers  asliv  grav  ;  wings 
grayish  brown  ,  under  parts  gray,  paler  on  the  belly  ;  throat  and  breast 
tliicklv  spotted  with  dark  brown.  In  winter  the  uj^per  parts  arc  jiurplish 
ash,  and  the  lireast  ashy  brown  or  mouse  gray  ;  the  belly  white.  Length 
variable,  averaging  about  S^^  mches. 

Ar.f/.  Usually  amid  a  tuft  of  grass  near  a  rocky  sea-sliore,  but  often 
on  high  jiills ;  generally  a  little  hollow  scraped  in  the  soil  and  lined  with 
some  moss  or  leaves  ;  but  nests  have  been  found  composed  of  dried  grass 
and  sunk  quite  deep  in  the  ground. 

j'v;'.;''^-  4;  P'llc  olive,  green  or  dull  buff,  marked  with  lilac  and  brown  ; 
1.45  X  1. 00. 

The  I'urple  Sandpiper  is  another  of  those  wandering  species 
common  to  the  cold  regions  of  both  continents,  confining  its 
visits  ])rinci]ially  to  the  rocky  and  shelving  sea-coasts,  where  it 
obtains  in  more  abundance  the  minute  Crustacea,  moUusca, 
and  the  fry  of  shell-fish  which  adhere  commonly  to  the  sea- 
weeds or  J^//(i  in  snch  situations  ;  and  so  peculiar  is  this 
iiabit  that  in  Holland,  where  it  is  now  common,  it  has  only 
appeared  with  the  existence  and  advancement  of  the  artificial 
moles   which   have  been  built.      In  Norway  along  the  rocky 


rURPLE  SANDPirER. 


135 


shores  of  the  Baltic,  and  on  similar  coasts  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean, in  the  West  of  England,  and  around  Hudson  Bay, 
these  birds  are  common.  In  Russia,  Siberia,  and  Iceland 
they  are  also  found,  but  less  frequently.  In  the  warmer  parts 
of  America  they  are  rare.  Leaving  the  inclement  coasts  of 
their  nativity,  they  proceed  probably  by  (Greenland,  and  mi- 
grate directly  to  the  rocky  coasts  of  Norway,  and  in  the  course 
of  the  winter  visit  for  a  while  the  colder  parts  of  Europe. 
According  to  Dr.  Richardson,  they  breed  abundantly  on  the 
shores  of  Hudson  Bay,  as  well  as  in  that  coldest  and  most 
desolate  of  boreal  climates,  Melville  Peninsula,  laying  the  usual 
number  of  eggs,  which  are  of  a  i)yriform  figure  sixteen  and  a 
half  lines  long,  and  an  inch  across  at  the  larger  end.  They  are 
yellowish  gray,  interspersed  with  small  irregular  spots  of  pale 
hair-brown,  more  abundant  at  the  larger  end,  and  rare  at 
the  other.  This  bird  is  seldom  seen  inland  or  on  the  borders 
of  rivers,  where  its  appearance  is  accidental ;  its  piping  note  is 
very  similar  to  that  of  other  species ;  is  not  shy,  often  caught 
in  snares,  and  the  flesh  accounted  palatable. 

The  Purple  Saiidjjipcr  is  an  abundant  bird  aloni,^  tlic  sliorcs  of 
New  Brunswick  and  Xova  Scotia  during  tlic  winter  niontlis.  ap- 
pearing in  large  ilocks,  and  feeding  on  the  rocks  and  the  stony 
beaches.  So  large  are  tlie  tiocks.  and  so  compactly  do  the  birds 
rise  when  Hushed,  that  I  have  known  sixty-five  to  be  killed  at  one 
shot. 

In  Massachuseits  this  l)ird  is  rather  uncommon,  and  is  seen  only 
in  small  groups  of  three  or  four,  and  similar  groups  are  occasion- 
ally seen  on  the  shores  of  tlie  Great  Lakes. 

Mr.  Hagerup  reports  tliat  a  few  individuals  remain  in  Greenland 
during  the  winter  montlis. 


I 


136 


WADING  BIRDS. 


LEAST   SANDPIPER. 

PEEl'. 

Tkinga  minutilla. 

Char.  Upper  parts  mottled  black,  rufous,  and  dull  white,  darker  on 
the  rump;  a  light  stripe  over  the  eyes;  under  parts  white,  spotted  with 
dusky ;  breast  and  sides  washed  with  ashy  brown  ;  toes  without  web. 
The  smallest  of  the  Sandpipers.     Length  5>2  to  6  inches. 

A'(sf.  Usually  on  a  dry  hill  bordering  a  lake  or  pond,  but  sometimes 
amid  moss  close  by  the  sea-shore,  —  a  slight  depression,  scantily  lined 
with  grass  and  leaves. 

^-A'^f-  4;  buff  or  drab  thickly  marked  with  brown  and  lilac;  1.15  X 
0.S5. 

This  small  and  nearly  resident  species  may  be  considered  as 
the  most  common  and  abundant  in  America,  inhabiting  the 
shores  and  marshes  of  the  whole  continent  both  to  the  north 
and  south  of  the  equator,  retiring  probably  with  the  incle- 
mency of  the  season,  indifferently,  from  either  frigid  circle 
towards  the  warmer  and  more'  hospitable  regions  within  the 
tropics.  These  birds  are  consequently  seen,  spring  and 
autumn,  in  all  the  markets  of  the  Union  as  well  as  in  those 
of  the  West  Indies,  Vera  Cruz,  and  in  the  interior  as  far  as 
Mexico.  Captain  Cook  also  found  them  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  continent,  frequenting  the  shores  of  Nootka  Sound. 
The  great  mass  of  their  pigmy  host  retire  to  breed  within  the 
desolate  lands  of  the  Arctic  circle,  where,  about  the  20th  of 
May,  or  as  soon  as  the  snow  begins  to  melt  and  the  rigors  of 
the  long  and  nocturnal  winter  relax,  they  are  again  seen  to 
return  to  the  shores  and  the  swampy  borders  of  their  native 
lakes  in  the  inclement  parallel  of  66  degrees.  Though  shy  and 
quailing  on  their  first  arrival,  with  many  other  aerial  passen- 
gers of  like  habits,  they  contribute  to  give  an  air  of  life  and 
activity  to  these  most  dreary,  otherwise  desolate  and  inhospi- 
table regions  of  the  earth.  Fjidowed  with  different  wants  and 
predilections  from  the  i)recetling  hosts,  whose  general  livery 
they  wear,  they  never  seemingly  diverge  in  their  passage  sc 
(iiT  to  the  eastward  as  to  visit  (Ireenland  and  the  contiguous 


LEAST  SANDPIPER. 


^7 


extremity  of  northern  Europe,  being  unknown  in  the  other 
continent ;  and  migrating  ahvays  towards  the  south,  they  have 
thickly  peopled  almost  every  part  of  the  country  that  gave 
them  birth. 

The  Peeps,  as  they  are  here  called,  are  seen  in  the  salt- 
marshes  around  Boston  as  early  as  the  8th  of  July,  —  indeed,  so 
seldom  are  they  absent  from  us  in  the  summer  season  that 
they  might  be  taken  for  denizens  of  the  State  or  the  neighbor- 
ing countries,  did  we  not  know  that  they  repair  at  an  early 
period  of  the  spring  to  their  breeding-resorts  in  the  distant 
north,  and  that  as  yet,  numerous  and  familiar  as  they  are,  the 
nest  and  history  of  their  incubation  are  wholly  unknown. 

When  they  arrive,  now  and  then  accompanied  by  the  Semi- 
palmated  species,  the  air  is  sometimes,  as  it  were,  clouded  with 
their  flocks.  Companies  led  from  place  to  place  in  quest  of 
food  are  seen  whirling  suddenly  in  circles  with  a  desultory 
flight,  at  a  distance  resembling  a  swarm  of  hiving  bees  seeking 
out  some  object  on  which  to  settle.  At  this  time,  deceiving 
them  by  an  imitation  of  their  sharp  and  querulous  whistle,  the 
fowler  approaches,  and  adds  destruction  to  the  confusion  of 
their  timorous  and  restless  flight.  Flocking  together  for  com- 
mon security,  the  fall  of  their  companions  and  their  plaintive 
cry  excites  so  much  sympathy  among  the  harmless  Peeps  that, 
forgetting  their  own  safety,  or  not  well  perceiving  the  cause  of 
the  fatality  which  the  gun  spreads  among  them,  they  fall  some- 
times into  such  a  state  of  confusion  as  to  be  routed  with  but 
little  effort,  until  the  greedy  sportsman  is  glutted  with  his  timo- 
rous and  infatuated  game.  When  much  disturbed  they,  how- 
ever, separate  into  small  and  wandering  parties,  where  they  are 
now  seen  gleaning  their  f;ire  of  larvae,  worms,  minute  shell- 
fish, and  insects  in  the  salt-marshes  or  on  the  muddy  and 
sedgy  shores  of  tide-rivers  and  ponds.  At  such  times  they 
may  be  very  nearly  approached,  betraying  rather  a  heedless 
fiimiliarity  than  a  timorous  mistrust  of  their  most  wily  enemy ; 
and  even  when  rudely  startled  they  will  often  return  to  the 
same  place  in  the  next  instant  to  pursue  their  lowly  occupation 
of  scooping  in  the  mud,  —  and  hence  probably  originated  the 


1)1 


■  'i 


■,  i  'I 


\    W 


il 


I 


138 


WADING  BIRDS. 


contemptible  appellation  of  humility,  by  which  they  and  some 
other  small  birds  of  similar  habits  have  been  distinguished. 
I'or  the  discover '  of  their  food  their  flexible  and  sensitive  awl- 
like bills  are  prooed  into  the  mire,  marshy  soil,  or  wet  sand,  in 
the  manner  of  the  Snipe  and  \Voodcock,  and  in  this  way  they 
discover  and  rout  from  their  hidden  retreats  the  larvae  and 
soft  worms  which  form  a  i)rincipal  part  of  their  fare.  At  other 
times  they  also  give  chase  to  insects,  and  pursue  their  calling 
with  amusing  alacrity.  When  at  length  startled  or  about  to 
join  the  company  they  have  left,  a  sharp,  short,  and  monoto- 
nous whistle  like  the  word  pect  or  peep  is  uttered,  and  they 
instantly  take  to  wing  and  course  along  with  their  com- 
rades. On  seeing  the  larger  marsh-binls  feeding,  as  the 
Yellow-Shanks  and  others,  a  whirling  flock  of  the  Peeps  will 
descend  amongst  them,  being  generally  allowed  to  feetl  in 
quiet ;  and  on  the  approach  of  the  sportsman  these  little  timo- 
rous rovers  are  ready  to  give  the  alarm.  At  first  a  slender 
peep  is  heard,  which  is  then  followed  by  two  or  three  others, 
and  presently /^r/ '///>  'pip  'p''p  murmurs  in  a  lisping  whistle 
through  the  quailing  ranks  as  they  rise  swarming  on  the  wing, 
and  inevitably  entice  with  them  their  larger  but  less  watchful 
associates.  Towards  evening,  in  fine  weather,  the  marshes 
almost  re-echo  with  the  shrill  but  rather  murmuring  or  lisping, 
subdued,  and  querulous  call  of  peef,  and  then  a  repetition  of 
pe-dec,  pc-dee,  dee  tlee,  which  seems  to  be  the  collecting  cry  of 
the  old  birds  calling  together  their  brood  ;  for  when  assembled, 
the  note  changes  into  a  confused  murmur  oi pect,  peet,  attended 
by  a  short  and  suppressed  whistle. 

At  most  times,  exce])t  in  the  spring,  they  are  fat  and  well 
flavored,  though  less  esteemed  than  many  of  the  other  species 
from  their  smallness  and  an  occasional  sedgy  taste  which  dete- 
riorates them.  From  the  oily  and  deliquescent  nature  of  the 
fat  which  loads  the  cellular  membrane  in  this  hyperboreal 
natal  family  of  birds,  we  may,  perhaps,  perceive  a  constitu- 
tional reason  why  most  of  them  thrive  better  and  have  such  a 
predilection  for  those  cool  and  temperate  climates  in  which 
they  renew  their  exhausted  vigor  and   acquire  the  requisite 


LEAST   SANDPIl'ER. 


'39 


I 


Strength  and  energy  necessary  for  the  period  of  reproduction. 
It  is  indeed  certain  that  those  stragglers  which,  from  age  or 
disability,  remain,  as  it  were  hermits,  secluded  from  the  rest  of 
the  wandering  host,  do  neither  propagate  nor  fatten  while  thus 
detained  through  summer  in  the  warmer  climates.  Of  this  fact 
we  have  already  mentioned  instances,  in  the  case  of  straggling 
Curlews  killed  in  this  vicinity  by  the  i8th  of  July,  —  a  period 
when  the  main  mass  of  the  species  are  engagetl  in  feeding  or 
just  hatching  their  tender  young. 

This  little  Sandpiper,  which  we  have  named  in  honor  of  Wil- 
son (certainly  not  being  the  species  first  intended  as  Tfini:;a 
pusilhx),  leaves  us  by  the  close  of  September,  and  departs  from 
the  Middle  States  towards  its  remote  hibernal  retreats  in  the 
course  of  the  month  of  October.  The  present  species  and 
some  others  appear  occasionally  to  feed  partially  on  vegetable 
substances  as  well  as  on  animals,  as  I  have  found  in  their 
stomachs  pieces  apparently  of  zostera  roots  and  flowers  of  the 
marsh  i)lantain. 

The  I'ccps  still  throng  our  sliores  each  spring  and  autumn,  and 
are  the  same  active  and  confiding  creatures  tliat  Xuttall  found 
them.  Their  general  breeding-area  is  from  Labrador  to  the  Arctic 
Ocean,  but  a  few  nests  have  been  discovered  south  of  tlie  St. 
Lawrence :  for  the  nesting  iiabits  of  these  birds  are  no  longer 
unknown. 


*  S'l 


111 

"A 


well 
'cies 
Hete- 

the 
keal 
titu- 
:h  a 

lich 
lisite 


n  ■ 


if-fi' 


I- 


!  i 


i";i' 


■'^_,  .-"n'^^ 


KNOT. 

RED-BREASTED  SNIPE.      ROBIN   SNIPE. 

Tringa  canutus. 

Char  Adult  in  summer  ;  above,  mottled  black  and  gray,  tinged  with 
dull  rufous;  rump  ashy  white,  with  dark  bars  ;  tail  gray,  edged  with  dull 
white ;  under  parts  and  line  over  the  eyes  rich  chestnut ;  paler  on  the  belly. 
Adult  in  winter  :  above,  ashy  gray  ;  below,  white,  the  neck  streaked  with 
dusky.  Young:  much  like  the  adult  in  winter  plumage,  but  the  feathers 
of  the  u])per  parts  are  bordered  with  lines  of  pale  buff  and  brown,  and  the 
breast  is  tinged  with  buff.     Length  about  lo^  inches. 

i\W/.  Usually  on  the  margin  of  a  lake  or  stream,  —  a  slight  depres- 
sion, lined  with  leaves  and  grass. 

i^W.f.  4-9 ;  "  light  pea  green,  closely  spotted  with  brown  in  small  specks 
about  the  size  of  a  pin-head  "  (Grcrly),  or  "  dun-color,  fully  marked  with 
reddish"  (I/iitc/iiits);  i.io  X  i.oo. 

This  large  and  variable  species,  described  under  such  a 
variety  of  names,  is  again  a  denizen  of  both  continents,  pass- 
ing the  summer,  or  reproductive  season,  in  the  utmost  habitable 


KNOT. 


141 


le 


limits  of  the  Arctic  Circle.  Captain  Parry's  adventurous  party 
found  it  breeding  on  Melville  Peninsula  and  in  other  parts 
of  those  hyperboreal  regions,  as  on  Seal  Islands,  probably, 
near  Chatteux  Bay,  as  well  as  ni  the  vicinity  of  Hudson  Bay 
down  to  the  55  th  parallel.  It  is  also  supposed  to  breed  in 
Denmark  and  in  the  Orkney  Islands.  It  is  likewise  met  with 
in  Iceland,  on  the  shores  of  the  Caspian,  and  on  the  banks  of 
the  Don  and  Choper  in  Russia ;  and  continuing  eastward 
towards  the  American  continent,  in  that  direction,  is  again 
found  in  Siberia,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  boreal  circle  at 
Nootka  Sound. 

About  the  middle  of  August,  flocks  of  the  Knot,  still  clad  in 
their  nuptial  and  summer  plumage,  appear  on  the  shores  and  in 
the  marshes  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
particularly  around  Chatham  and  the  Vineyard.  In  many, 
however,  the  moult  of  autumn  has  already  commenced  ;  but  in 
the  nearer  vicinity  of  Boston,  flocks  of  the  young  only  are  seen 
ilisguised  in  the  elegantly  marked  and  sober  gray  of  winter. 
When  not  harassed,  they  are  by  no  means  shy,  allowing  of  a 
pretty  near  approach  while  busily  and  sedately  employed  in 
gleaning  their  food  along  the  strand,  chiefly  at  the  recess  of 
the  tide,  where,  in  friendly  company  with  the  small  Peep  and 
other  kindred  species,  the  busy  flocks  are  seen  gleaning  up  the 
rejectamenta  of  the  ocean,  or  cjuickly  and  intently  probing  the 
moist  sand  for  worms  and  minute  shell-fish,  running  nimbly 
before  the  invading  surge,  and  profiting  by  what  it  leaves  be- 
hind. They  seem  like  a  diminutive  army,  marshalled  in  rank, 
and  spreading  their  animated  lines,  while  perpetually  engaged 
in  an  advance  or  retreat  before  the  break  of  the  resounding 
and  ceaseless  waves.  Bred  in  solitudes  remote  from  the 
haunts  of  men,  the  young,  in  particular,  seem  unconscious  of 
danger  from  the  fowler,  and  a  flock  may  sometimes  be  succes- 
sively thinned  by  the  gun,  till  the  whole  are  nearly  destroyed  ; 
when  wounded,  however,  they  take  to  the  water  and  swim  with 
ease. 

On  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  and  other  parts  of  the  Middle 
States  they  arrive   in  October,  and  are  seen  along  the  strand 


t  <ii 


\'^ 


142 


WADING   BIRDS. 


in  flocks,  but  disappear  early  in  December,  on  their  way  south 
to  their  wniter  ([uarters  within  the  tropics.  On  their  return 
they  appear  on  the  coast  of  the  Middle  States  early  in  May,  on 
their  way  to  their  congenial  retreats  in  the  North  ;  but  at  this 
time  lew  are  to  be  seen,  compared  with  the  accumulating  flocks 
of  autumn  ;  while  at  the  same  season  in  Holland  they  are 
most  abundant.  Some  of  these  birds  in  their  rufous  plumage 
have  been  observed  to  linger  on  the  neighboring  coast  till  the 
20th  of  July,  so  that  they  must  either  have  bred  in  the  vicinity, 
or  have  passed  the  season  in  celibacy,  lingering  behind  the 
migrating  flocks,  —  a  habit  which  appears  to  be  more  or  less 
common  with  many  other  of  the  aijuatic  and  wading  birds. 

Tile  Knot  is  found  throughout  North  America,  breeding  in  the 
Arctic  regions,  wintering  in  Florida  (sparingly)  and  southward,  and 
migrating  by  inland  routes  as  well  as  along  tlie  sea-coast,  it  is  a 
common  bird  on  the  Xew  England  shores  in  spring  and  autumn. 


i ' 

11- 


li' 


BAIRD'S    SANDPIPER. 

'I'rINC.A     liAIRDII. 

Char  Upper  parts  grayish  buff,  varied  with  dusky;  stripe  over  eyes 
white  ;  middle  tail-feathers  duskv,  others  gray  :  chest  tinged  witli  buff 
and  streaked  with  dusky,  other  under  parts  white ,  bill  and  feet  black. 
Ix'ngth  about  7 '/i  inches. 

A'tw/.  On  the  margin  of  a  lake  or  ]5ond  ;  a  slight  depression,  hidden  by 
tall  grass  and  lined  with  leaves  and  grass. 

/i,!,%'s.  4;  bullish  or  creamy,  spotted  with  rich  reddish  brown  ;  1.30  X 
o.yo. 

baird's  Sandjiii^cr  was  described  by  Coues  in  1861  from  speci- 
mens taken  in  the  West,  and  it  was  not  until  1870  that  the  bird  was 
known  to  occur  on  the  Atlantic.  Up  to  the  present  a  few  examples 
only  have  been  captured  to  tlie  eastward  of  the  Mississippi  valley, 
and  very  little  is  known  of  the  bird's  distribution.  Reports  from 
different  sections  of  the  country  lend  ])rohability  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  bulk  of  these  Sandpipers  migrate  across  the  Great  IMains 
and  nest  along  the  Mackenzie  River  valley  north  of  latitude  Co'^. 
In  winter  they  range  to  Chili  and  the  Argentine  Republic. 


SEMI-rALMATEI)    SANDriPKR. 

« 

ErEUNKTES    Fl'SIM.US. 

Char.  Feet  with  two  webs  cxtcncIinL;  al)out  luilf-way  up  tlie  toes. 
Upper  parts  mottled  l)ii)wnish  i^iav,  tinged  witli  rufous  or  buff,  eacli  fea- 
ther with  a  central  stripe  of  blackish;  rump  darker ;  under  parts  white, 
the  breast  washed  with  rufous  and  marked  with  dusky.  In  winter  plum- 
age there  is  no  trace  of  tlie  rufous  or  buff  tints      Length  about  6  inches. 

Ntsl.  Usually  on  the  margin  of  a  pool  by  the  sea  or  an  inland  jiond, 
—  a  slight  depression  scantily  lined  with  leaves  and  grass  ;  sometimes  hid- 
den in  a  tussock  of  grass. 

/'^i^gs.  3-4  ;  |)ale  gray  or  with  buff,  drab,  or  olive  tint,  variouslv 
marked  with  brown;  1.20X0.85. 

Commonly  associated  with  other  species  of  the  same  size, 
plumage,  and  habits,  it  is  not  easy  to  offer  any  remark  con- 
cerning it  which  can  be  considered  as  exclusive.  It  is  spread 
equally  over  the  North  American  continent,  from  the  confines 
of  the  Arctic  circle  probably  to  the  West  Indies.  Acconiiiii; 
to  Wilson,  it  arrives  and  departs  with  the  Sanderling,  and  asso 
ciales  with  the  Dunlin  when  in  its  autumnal  dress,  in  this  case 
forming  flocks  apart  from  each  other ;  but  with  the  I'eep  it  is 
sometimes  so  blended  as  to  be  unknown  till  brought  to  the 


i 


ii ' 


!■! 


I 


144 


WADING   BIRDS. 


ground.  In  the  salt-marshes  near  Boston  they  are  not  uncom- 
mon in  small  numbers,  but  some  seasons  are  seen  whirling 
about  wildly  in  large  and  separate  flocks,  and  so  timorous  and 
roving  as  to  give  the  alarm  to  the  other  larger  birds  asso- 
ciated around  them.  Along  the  shores  of  New  Jersey  they 
are  numerous,  and  Mr.  Hutchins,  who  described  this  species, 
without  publishing  his  description,  as  early  as  the  year  1770, 
says  that  they  arrive  at  Severn  River,  in  the  fur  countries,  in 
great  numbers  about  the  middle  of  May.  Towards  autumn 
these  birds  utter  a  chirping  call,  and  in  September  they  retire 
to  the  southward,  soon  after  which  they  are  seen  in  Massa- 
chusetts on  most  of  the  muddy  shores,  which  they  frequent 
at  the  recess  of  the  tide,  dwelling  more  exclusively  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  ocean  than  the  Peep.  When  dis- 
persed or  alarmed,  they  give  a  quailing  call,  like  '/o-7C'fe/,  Wo- 
ivivl.  At  other  times,  when  startled,  they  utter  a  shrill  clatter- 
ing whistle,  and  are  always  noisy  and  querulous.  Like  the 
small  land-birds,  they  may  sometimes  be  seen  washing  them- 
selves with  great  satisfaction  in  the  salt  pools  and  plashes,  and 
when  wounded  swim  with  considerable  vigor.  While  here 
they  feed  upon  diminutive  coleoptera,  very  small  shrimps, 
minute  shell-fish,  which  they  probe  out  of  the  sand,  some  mol- 
lusca,  and  occasionally  the  roots  of  the  Zostcra  marina  ;  they 
also  swallow  considerable  quantities  of  small  gravel,  and  be- 
coming very  fat,  are  nearly  as  well  flavored  as  the  Snipe,  being 
very  superior  to  the  other  small  species. 

This  species  breeds  in  the  Far  North,  and  winters  on  the  shores  of 
the  Gull  of  Mexico  and  soutlnvard,  journeyinij  to  and  froalonu;  the 
inland  rivers  as  well  as  by  the  sea-coast.  It  is  still  abundant  in 
New  England,  but  Mocks  are  not  so  numerous  as  formerly. 


Note.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  Wkstekn  Sandi'IPF-K  (£". 
occiiicittalis)  have  been  taken  in  New  England.  It  is  very  similar 
to  pitsil/HS,  but  has  a  longer  bill  and  tarsus,  and  the  plumage  of 
the  upper  parts  is  more  distinctly  rufous. 


STILT   SANDI'H'KU. 


'45 


of 

the 

in 


lar 
of 


STILT   SANDIMPKR. 

M ICROPALAMA    HIMANl OPUS. 

Char.     Hill  nearly  as  lonp;  as  a  Snipe's;  legs  much  longer.     I'lijiei 
parts  mottled  gray,  l)lack,  and  bay,  or  buff;    wings  darker;    upper  tail 
coverts  white,  barred  with  dusky  ;  tail  ashy  gray  ;  under  jiarts  dull  white, 
streaked  and  ijarred  with  dusky.     In  winter  the  prevailing  color  of  tiie 
upper  parts  is  ashy  gray.     Length  about  9  inches. 

A'rst.  Xear  the  sea-shore  or  on  border  of  a  lake,  —  a  slight  dejjres- 
sion  scantily  lined  with  leaves  and  grass.  It  is  sometimes  hid  in  a  tus- 
sock of  grass. 

AvC-  3~4t  light  drab  or  buffy  white,  marked  with  rich  brown  and 
purplish  gr.ay;  1.45  X  100. 

Nuttiill  wrote  of  tlii.s  as  of  three  species, —  Stilt  Sandpiper, 
Long-legged  Sandpiper,  and  Douglas'  Stilt  Sandpiper.  These 
names  apply  to  but  one  bird. 

The  present  species  was  first  described  by  Bonaparte  in  1826, 
but  until  within  recent  years  it  was  thought  to  be  exceedingly  rare. 
As  late  as  1868  there  was  no  record  of  its  occurrence  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  even  in  18S1  the  announcement  that  my  friend  Fred 
Daniel  had  .secured  one  of  three  examples  he  had  discovered  on 
the  flats  near  St.  John,  N.  B..  was  hailed  as  "important." 

We  now  know  that  the  bird  is  not  at  all  rare,  and  that  its  former 
apparent  scarcity  was  due  to  its  rapid  migrations. 

The  Stilt  Sandpiper  breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions,  and  winters  on 
the  shores  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  southward  to  Brazil  and 
Peru.  On  the  jiassage  north  and  south  it  makes  long  flights  and 
a  few  short  halts ;  but  small  Hocks  have  been  seen  at  numerous 
localities  on  the  Atlantic  coast  and  along  the  Mississippi  valley 
route.     Several  have  been  taken  on  the  shores  of  the  (ireat  Lakes. 

As  far  as  its  habits  and  manners  are  known,  it  appears  to  resem- 
ble somewhat  the  Dowitcher  and  the  Vellow-legs,  with  which  it 
frequently  a.ssociates.  It  walks  sedately  like  a  Curlew,  nnd  has 
little  of  the  vivacity  so  conspicuous  in  tlie  Sandpiper.  Our  bird 
generally  feeds  along  the  margin  of  the  beach,  wading  into  the 
water  and  following  the  edge  of  the  wave  as  the  water  flows  out 
and  in.  It  often  probes  into  the  sand,  and  acts  as  thou<,di  securing 
something  by  suction.  On  dissection,  evidence  has  been  found 
that  the  bird's  food  was  at  least  partially  composed  of  small  shell- 
fish and  worms.  When  disturbed,  it  utters  a  sharp  /TiVt/  /ti'^^/ 
before  flving. 


1 


VOL.    II. 


10 


!  i 


li- 


1 


\h 


WUAA'l'V. 

SVMl'MKMIA    SIMll'AI.MAIA. 

C'liAU.  I'pjicr  parts  brownish  olive,  spotted  and  streaked  with  dusky; 
wings  with  larj;o  patcii  of  white;  tail-coverts  white;  tail  ashy,  witii  dark 
liars;  under  parts  w'.iite,  the  breast  sixjtted  witli  dusky,  the  sides  washed 
with  buff  and  barred  witii  dusky.  In  winter  the  ui)per  i)arts  are  \i\:\'\n 
asliy  i;ray,  and  the  lower  parts  dull  white,  uns])otted.  Hill  dusky;  legs 
bluish  ,i;rav.     Length  about   l6  inches. 

A'c'st.  I  lid  amid  grass  or  rushes  on  a  salt  meailow  or  inhuul  marsh,  — 
a  sligiit  depression,  scantily  lined  with  grass. 

A>  .>.  4  ;  olive  with  varying  tints  from  brown  to  gray,  marked  with 
rich  brown  and  lilac;  2.15  X  1.50. 

'i'he  Willet,  as  this  well-known  nnd  large  species  is  called, 
inhabits  almost  every  part  of  the  United  States,  from  the  coast 
of  Morida  to  the  distant  shores  and  saline  lakes  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Saskatchewan,  up  to  the  56th  parallel  of  latitude,  where, 
as  they  pass  the  summer,  they  no  doubt  propagate  there,  as  well 


Wll.l.l'/l". 


•47 


kv; 
aik 

;C(1 

lain 


ith 


jlSt 

e, 
^11 


.1^  in  the  Middk-  St.itis  of  iIk'  Inion.  I'hcir  appearance  in  the 
north  of  iMnope  is  merely  aecidenlal,  like  the  visit  of  tlie  KiilT 
in  Aincriiti,  wliitii  has,  indeed,  no  better  claim  in  our  I'auna 
than  that  of  the  Willet  in  l'"airo|)e,  both  bein^'  siragj^lers  from 
their  native  abodes  and  ordinary  miyraling  circuits.  I'rom 
the  scarcity  of  this  spcries  nw  the  shores  of  Massachusetts  bay, 
it  is  more  than  probable  that  ihrir  iiorllurii  mij^M-atimis  are 
made  chivlly  up  the  great  valley  ni'  the  .Mississi|)pi  ;  and  they 
have  been  seen  in  the  spring  by  Mr.  Say,  near  laigineer  Can- 
tonment, on  the  bank  of  the  Miss(jiiri.  A  few  straggling 
families  or  tlocks  of  the  young  are  occasionally  seen  about  the 
middle  of  August  on  the  muddy  llats  of  Cohasset  bea<  h  ;  but 
they  never  breed  in  this  i)art  of  New  laigland,  though  ne.^ts 
are  found   in  the  vicinity  of  New    lledford. 

The  Willet  pr(jbal)ly  |)asses  the  winter  within  the  tropics,  or 
along  the  extensive  shores  of  the  Mexican  (lulf.  About  the 
middle  of  March,  however,  its  lively  vociferations  of ////-riv'//- 
7<;'///<7,  pill-'iinll-'ii'ilkt  l)egin  t ouuuonly  to  be  heard  in  all  the 
marshes  of  the  sea-islands  of  (leorgia  and  vSouth  Carolina.  In 
the  .Miildle  States  these  birds  arrive  about  the  15th  of  .\pril, 
or  sometimes  later,  according  to  the  season  ;  and  from  that 
])eriod  to  the  close  of  July  their  loud  and  shrill  cries.  au<lible 
for  half  a  mile,  aie  heard  inc:essautly  throughout  the  marshes 
where  they  now  reside.  Towards  the  close  of  May  the  W'illets 
begin  to  lay.  Their  nests,  at  some  distance  from  the  strand, 
are  made  in  the  sedge  of  the  salt-meadows.  c:omposed  of  wet 
rushes  and  coarse  grass  placed  in  a  slight  excavation  in  the 
tump  ;  and  during  the  period  of  incubation,  as  with  some  other 
marsh-birds,  the  sides  of  the  nest  are  gradually  raised  to  the 
heiglit  ot  five  or  six  inches.  The  eggs,  about  four,  very  thick 
ae  larger  end,  and  tapering  at  the  ojiposite,  are  two 
Is  the  size  of  a  common  hen's  egg  (measuring  over  two 
ii  les  in  length,  by  one  and  a  half  in  the  greatest  breadth)  ; 
thiy  are  of  a  pale  bright  greenish  olive  (sometimes  darker), 
largely  blotched  and  touched  with  irregular  spots  of  a  bright 
blackish-brown  of  two  shades,  mixed  with  a  few  other  smaller 
touches  of  a       Kr  tint,  the  whole  most  numerous  at  the  great 


I 


''I 


<Vi 


I 


148 


WADING   I51RDS. 


^1^ 


end.  According  to  Wilson,  the  eggs  are  very  palatable  as  food. 
'I'he  young,  covered  with  a  gray-colored  down,  run  off  as  soon 
as  freed  from  the  shell,  and  are  led  about  by  the  mother  in 
quest  of  their  proper  food,  while  the  vociferous  male  keeps 
careful  watch  for  their  safety.  (Jn  entering  these  breeding- 
places  the  spectator  is  beset  by  the  Willets  flying  wildly  around 
and  skimming  over  his  head  with  the  clamorous  cry  oi pill-ioill- 
ivillet,  accom])anied  at  times,  when  much  excited  and  alarmed 
by  an  approach  to  the  nest,  with  a  loud  clicking  note,  in  the 
manner  of  the  Avocet.  I'^xhausted  with  their  vigilant  and  de- 
fensive exertions,  at  times  they  utter  a  sad  and  plaintive  note, 
antl  occasionally  alighting,  slowly  close  their  long,  silvery,  and 
party-colored  wings,  as  if  acting  a  part  to  solicit  compassion. 
Among  their  most  common  and  ])iratical  enemies  are  the 
Crows,  who  roam  over  the  marshes  in  cjuest  of  eggs,  and  as 
soon  as  they  appear  are  attacked  by  the  Willets  in  united  num- 
bers, who  with  loud  vociferations  pursue  them  off  the  ground. 
During  the  term  of  incubation  the  female,  fntigued  with  her 
task,  and  occasionally  leaving  her  eggs  to  the  influence  of  the 
ardent  sun,  resorts  to  the  shore,  and  decjjly  wading,  washes  and 
dresses  her  plumage,  frequently  emerging,  and  performing  her 
ablutions  with  an  air  of  peculiar  satisfaction.  Indeed,  the 
Willets  generally  wade  more  than  most  of  their  tribe  ;  and 
when  disabled  from  flying  by  a  wound,  they  take  to  the  water 
without  hesitation,  and  swim  with  apparent  ease.  The  peculiar 
note  which  characterizes  and  gives  name  to  this  remarkable 
species  of  Chevalier  is  only  uttered  by  the  adults ;  and  the 
call  of  the  young  when  associated  by  themselves  appears  to 
be  a  kind  of  shrill  and  i)laintive  whistle  almost  like  that  of  tlie 
Curlew.  The  Willet  subsists  chiefly  on  small  shell-fish,  aquatic 
insects,  their  larvaj  and  mollusca,  in  quest  of  which  it  constantly 
resorts  to  the  muddy  shores  and  estunries  at  low  water.  In 
the  fall,  when  the  flocks  of  young  birds  associate,  which  may 
be  easily  known  by  the  grayness  of  their  ])!umage,  they  are 
selected  by  the  gunners  in  preference  to  the  older  and  darker 
birds,  being  tender,  fit,  and  fine-flavored  game.  In  the 
months  of  October  and  November  they  gradually  pass  on  to 


WILLET. 


149 


their  uintcr  quarters  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  continent 
1  ransient  Hocks  of  the  youngs  bred  in  high  latitudes,  visit  the 
shores  of  Cohasset  by  the  middle  of  August ;  but  timorou., 
wild,  and  wandering,  they  soon  hasten  to  rejoin  the  host  thev 
had  accidentally  forsaken. 

The  Willet  is  found  throughout  temperate  North  America;  but 
he  birds  brceduig  on  ti,c  (ircat  i'laius  have  latelv  been  separated 
fron,  typical  sa.upaln.ata.  The  general  breeding  area  of  the  pres- 
ent race  ,s  said  to  lie  north  of  latitude  45°:  Imt  while  the  bird  is 
rarel>  .seen  m  New  Lngland  and  the  Maritime  Provinces  in  sum- 
m.,  though  quue  common  in  both  regions  during  the  fall  migra- 
tion, ,t  breeds  m  numbers  to  the  southward  of  Long  Island.  Onlv 
a  few  examples  have  been  seen  in  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes, 
though  farther  .south  .t  is  not  uncommon  in  the  interior. 

w"^iT'"",~^',.  '^^'^  •^''■-  ^^'''"'^^'"  •'■•^■^^■•^ter  discovered  that  the 
Willets  breeding  west  of  the  Mississippi  differed  from  Kastern 
birds  in  size,  color,  and  markings,  the  Western  race  being  '-lar-er 
with  a  longer,  slenderer  bill  ;  the  dark  markings  above  fewer' 
hner,  and  lainter  on  a  much  paler  (grayish  drab)  ground  :  thus,' 
beneath  duller,  more  confused,  or  broken,  and  ix.rdered  by  pink- 
ish .salmon,  which  often  spreads  over  or  suffuses  the  entire  under 
parts  excei)ting  tlie  abdomen.  .Middle  tail-feathers  either  ciuite 
immaculate  or  very  faintly  barred.  ...  In  tl,e  plain  grav  and 
white  winter  (hcss  the  two  forms  appear  to  be  distinguished  onlv 
by  size     iJiiciL's/cn.  ^ 

Mr.  iJrewster  named  tlie  new  form  the  Wkstkk.nt  Win  rr  ( V 
semipa/mata  hiontah^).  This  race  breeds  on  the  plains'west  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  in  winter  is  found  on  the  coasts  of  the 
South  Atlantic  and  (ailf  States. 


I  I, 


J 11 


Ill 


RUFF. 

PaVONLI'.I.LA    PL'GXAX. 

Char.  Upi)cr  parts  vnrial)lc,  but  usually  mottled  black,  chestnut,  buff, 
and  ^rav ;  lower  hack  dark  brown,  with  uiari;iii  of  cliestnul  or  buff,  wings 
and  tail  dusky  brown;  iicck  and  breast  buff;  liclly  didl  wliitc.  During 
the  mating  '-ca-on  —  Mav  and  June  —  the  male  drops  the  leathers  from 
the  sides  of  the  face,  and  nddi-li  warts  appear  there;  at  this  time,  also, 
lie  wears  a  shield  like  crciiile  ruff,  —  whence  the  name.  Length  about 
I  2  inches. 

iWfit.  On  a  dry  knoll  in  a  swamp  in  the  midsi  of  a  clump  of  coarse 
grass  or  sedges  ;  a  flight  depression  lined  with  dead  grass. 

I'-KX'-  i;  l^ale  oli%e  or  olive  gray,  spotted  with  reddish  brown;  1.60 
X  1.15- 

The  Ruff  is  a  distinctly  Kuropcan  species.  —  it  is  rare  on  the 
Briti.sh  I.sles, — but  so  many  examples    liavo  been  taken  on  this 


RUKF. 


151 


ts 

is 


side  of  the  Atlantic  tliat  the  bird.s  claim  to  consideration  in  tlie 
present  connection  cannot  be  ij,Miored.  Yet  ii  must  be  considered 
as  a  straggler  only,  --  an  accidental  wanderer.  It>  breeding  area 
lies  amid  the  desolate  tundras  of  northern  Siberia,  and  southward 
to  the  fountains  of  the  Danube  and  the  upper  valley  of  the  Amoor. 
From  there  ii  migrates  in  the  autumn  into  Africa  and  southern 
Asia. 

The  examples  that  have  been  obtained  in  America  were  taken 
chieriy  along  the  Atlantic  shore  between  Long  Island  and  the  Bay 
of  Fundy.  There  is  only  one  specimen  recorded  from  the  Great 
Lake  region,  —  taken  near  Toronto. 

The  Ruff  differs  from  all  others  of  the  Waders  in  appearance 
and  in  habits.  The  long  feathers  of  the  male  render  him  easily 
distinguished,  and  liis  polygamous  habits  quite  as  thoroughly  sep- 
arate him.  Instead  of  wooing  11  mate  after  the  manner  of  their 
congeners  these  wild  libertines  fight  for  a  bevy  of  mistresses,  the 
pluckiest  hghter  winning  the  largest  harem. 

These  contests  are  not  rough-and-tumble  tuelccs,  but  orderly 
conducted  duels.  They  occur  on  a  common  battle-ground,  where 
generation  after  generation  of  the  birds  assemble  to  do  combat  for 
the  possession  of  the  females,  —  called  Reeves,  —  and  these  gather 
within  sight  and  urge  on  their  favorites.  The  battle-grounds  are  in 
the  midst  of  a  swamp,  and  usually  on  an  elevated  knoll  in  an  open 
space. 

During  the  encounter  the  combatants  appear  intensely  excited 
and  act  as  if  in  desperation,  and  the  excitement  of  the  occasion  is 
increased  by  the  wild  screams  of  the  Reeves.  The  duels  are  not 
to  the  death,  however,  nor  are  tiiey  in  tlie  least  degree  bloody 
affairs.  These  birds  have  sense  enough  to  spar  for  points  ;  slug- 
ging is  barred.  The  attack  is  made  wholly  with  the  bill,  -  ihcy 
never  strike  with  the  foot,  like  a  game-cock,  as  some  writers  have 
stated,  —  and  a  few  rounds  end  the  affray,  with  no  more  harm  to 
the  participants  tiian  an  encounter  wilii  foils  to  human  rivals.  The 
weaker  bird  retires,  and  the  victor  awaits  another  adversary.  Occa- 
sionallv  two  or  three  duels  arc  in  jirogress  at  one  time. 

As  might  be  expected,  such  habits  are  not  condurive  to  domestic 
felicity.  The  Reeve  is  .-.oon  abandoned  b\  lu'r  temporary  'over, 
and  when  nesting-time  arrives  she  is  forced  to  build  her  nest  alone, 
and  alone  she  rears  her  barbaric  brood. 


M 


i 


!:!r-: 


152 


WADING   BIRDS. 


TELL-TALE. 


il' 


GREATER  YEIXOW-LEGS. 

TATTLER.      STONE    SNIPE.      WINTER    YELLOW- 
LEG. 


Toi  ANUS   MELANOLEUCUS. 

Ch.\i<.  Upper  parts  dark  ash  varied  with  gray  and  white  ;  upper  tail- 
covcrts  wiiite;  under  parts  white,  breast  and  sides  witii  dark  streaks.  In 
winter  the  plumage  i?  paler,  the  breast  almost  unmaculate.  Kill  long  and 
slendci  ;  legs  long.     Length  about  14  i'lchEs. 

Ais/.  On  the  edge  of  marsh  or  open  swamj) ,  a  slight  depression  lined 
with  grass  and  weed  stems. 

Z;V,i,'J.  A  ;  'lull  gray  or  dark  buff  marked  with  brown  and  lilac;  1.45  X 
1.20. 

The  Greater  Yellow-Shanks,  or  Tell-Tnle,  so  remarkable  for 
its  noise  and  vigilance,  arrives  on  the  coast  of  the  Middle 
States  early  in  April,  and  |)ro(,eeding  principally  by  an  inland 
route,  is  seen  in  abundance  as  far  north  as  the  plains  of  the 
Saskatchewan,  where,  no  doubt,  in  those  desolate  and  secluded 
marshes,  tar  from  the  prying  eye  and  persecuting  hand  of  man, 
the  i)rincipal  part  of  the  species  pass  the  period  of  rei)ro(luc- 
tion,  reappearing  in  the  cooler  j^arts  of  the  Union  towards  the 
close  of  August;  yet  so  extensive  is  the  breeding-range  of  the 
Tell-'rale  that  many  continue  to  occupy  the  muishes  of 
the  Middle  States  until  the  approach  of  cold  weather  in  the 
month  of  November,  breeding  in  their  favorite  resorts  on  the 
borders  of  bogs,  securing  the  nest  in  a  tuft  of  rank  grass  or 
sedge,  and  laying  four  eggs  of  a  dingy  white  irregularly  marked 
with  s')ots  of  dark  brown  or  black,  and  which,  according  to 
Mr.  Hutchins,  are  large  for  the  size  of  the  bird,  and  of  similar 
markings  in  their  Northern  breeding-places.  In  Massachusetts, 
as  with  many  other  birds,  the  present  is  so  uncommon  a  spe- 
cies that  it  may  be  consiilered  almost  as  a  straggler,  arriving 
in  autumn  with  the  few  flocks  which  touch  at  'he  coast  (jf  l,ab 
rador  and  Newfoimdland,  confining  their  vis.  j,  with  Curlews, 
Godwits,  and  many  other  wading  birds,  chiefly  to  the  eastern 
extremity  of  Cape  Cod  and  Cape  Ann,  where  multitudes  of 
these  birds  transiently  assemble  in  spring  and  autumn  (partic- 


GREATER   VELLOW-LEGS. 


153 


ularly  in  the  vicinity  of  Chatham  and  Ipswich),  and  of  which 
but  few  penetrate  inland,  their  next  visit  being  usually  to  the 
shores  of  Long  Island  in  their  further  progress  to  the  South. 
In  the  spring,  however,  avoiding  the  long-continued  eastwardly 
storms  of  this  climate,  they  are  led  to  go  inland  by  a  more 
favorable  route,  and  have  been  seen  at  this  season  by  Mr. 
Say  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  on  their  way  to  the  interior 
of  the  continent. 

The  vociferous  vigilance  of  the  Tell-Tale  has  justly  stigma- 
tized him  with  the  present  name  ;  for  no  sooner  does  the  gun- 
ner appear  than  his  loud  and  shrill  whistle  of  about  four 
rapidly  repeated  notes  is  instantly  heard  as  he  mounts  on 
wing,  and  proves  generally  so  good  a  warning  to  all  the  rest  of 
his  feathered  neighbors,  and  particularly  the  vigilant  Ducks, 
that  the  whole,  to  the  frequent  disappointment  of  the  fowler, 
at  once  accompany  their  faithful  and  officious  sentinel.  At 
times,  indeed,  without  any  particular  motive  to  excitement, 
except  perhaps  that  of  hilarity  and  vigor,  they  are  seen  to  rise 
high  in  the  air,  chattering  so  loudly  as  still  to  be  heard  when 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  eye.  From  their  note  they  are  called 
by  the  Cree  Indians  of  Hudson  IJay  Sasas/ti'ia,  and  in  this 
part  of  N'iw  I'^ngland  they  are  usually  known  by  the  name  of 
the  Winter  Yellow- Leg. 

The  Tell-Tales,  after  taking  up  a  summer  residence  in  the 
marshes,  are  no  longer  gregarious  until  the  return  of  winter, 
when,  with  the  addition  of  the  young,  they  rove  about  in  small 
parties  until  their  final  departure  for  the  South.  Like  most  of 
the  species,  they  frequent  watery  bogs  and  the  muddy  margins 
of  creeks  and  inlets,  where  they  are  often  seen  in  quest  of  food 
or  standing  in  a  watchfiil  posture,  alternately  balancing  them- 
selves, raising  or  lowering  the  head  and  tail,  and  on  the  least 
appearance  of  danger  or  surprise,  which  they  readily  perceive 
from  the  elevation  of  their  legs  and  the  0])en  places  in  which 
they  feed,  their  loud  whistle  is  instantly  heard  and  the  tim- 
orous and  less  watchful  flocks  are  again  in  motion.  Tliey 
sometimes  penetrate,  singly  or  in  small  numbers,  some  way 
inland  along  the  muddy  shores  of  estuaries  and  rivers  to  the 


5 1 

vm 


»la:'*l 


I 


1 


154 


WADINCi   BIRDS. 


Id 


extent  of  tide-water.  Although  they  live  principally  upon  the 
insects  and  larv.ne  they  Cind  in  the  marshes,  at  a  later  periotl 
they  also  pay  occasional  visits  to  the  strand  in  (^uest  of  ni(jl- 
lusca,  small  shrimps,  and  minute  shell-fish,  the  ordinary  fare  of 
the  true  Sandpipers.  In  the  fall,  when  fat,  their  llesh  is  highly 
esteemed,  and  they  are  frequently  brought  to  market. 

Thu  Tell-Talc  occurs  throu,i;hout  this  Kastern  Province,  breed- 
ing from  about  latitude  50  degrees  northward,  and  wintering  in 
Brazil  and  Ciiili.  It  is  said  to  i)ree(l  also  in  Michigan  and  Wis- 
consin. On  the  Atlantic  coast  tlie  birds  are  as  common  in  spring 
as  in  autumn.  Mr.  Brewster  reports  finding  numljers  on  Anticosti 
in  summer,  and  a  few  have  been  seen  ia  New  England  at  that 
season. 


II 


YELLOW-LEGS. 

SUMMER   YELLOW-LKC.S.     LESSER    VELLOW-LEGS. 

ToTANrS    I  I.AVII'KS. 

Char.  l'p])cr  parts  dark  asli  varied  with  black,  white,  and  gray  ; 
upper  tail-coverts  white,  streaked  with  dusky;  tail  asliy,  barred  with 
white  ;  wings  dusky ;  under  parts  wliite,  the  breast  and  sides  streaked 
with  duskv.  In  winter  the  plumage  is  paler;  the  upper  ]iarts  are  p]:un 
ash,  with  few  and  less  distinct  markings.     Length  about  it  inches. 

A't's/.  Amid  the  bushes  on  the  margin  of  a  marsh  or  lake;  a  slight 
dejircssion  scantily  lined  with  grass  or  leaves. 

£|i,'i.'.f.  4 ;  dull  buff  or  pale  drab,  marked  with  brown  and  dull  lilac ; 
1.70  X  1.15. 

The  Yellow-Shanks,  in  certain  situations,  may  be  considered 
as  the  most  common  bird  of  the  family  in  .America.  Its  sum- 
iTier  residence,  or  breeding-station,  even  extends  from  the 
Middle  States  to  the  Northern  extremity  of  the  continent, 
where  it  is  seen,  solitary  or  in  jiairs,  on  the  banks  of  rivers, 
lakes,  or  in  marshes,  in  every  situation  contiguous  to  the 
ocean.  And  though  the  young  and  old  are  found  throughout 
the  warm  season  of  the  year  in  so  many  places,  the  nest  and 
eggs  are  yet  entirely  unknown.  Calculating  from  the  first 
appearance  of  the  brood  abroad,  the  females  commence  laying 
by  the  middle  of  June,  and  are  seen  in  this  neighborhood  at 


YELLOW-I.EGS. 


155 


le 
}^> 

lie 

lut 

id 

[st 

|ig 
hi 


that  season.  These  birds  reside  chiefly  in  the  salt-marshes, 
antl  frequent  low  flats  and  estuaries  at  the  ebb  of  the  tide, 
wading  in  the  mud  in  (juest  of  worms,  insects,  and  other  small 
marine  and  fluviatile  animals.  They  seldom  leave  these  mari- 
time situations,  except  driven  from  the  coast  by  storms,  when 
they  may  o(  casionally  be  seen  in  low  and  wet  meadows  as  flir 
inland  as  the  extent  of  tide-water.  The  Yelhnv-Shanks  havi'  a 
sharp  whistle  of  three  or  four  short  notes,  which  they  repeat 
when  alarmed  and  when  flying,  and  sometimes  utter  a  sim])le, 
low,  and  rather  hoarse  call,  which  passes  from  one  to  the 
other  at  the  moment  of  rising  on  the  wing.  '1  hey  are  very 
impatient  of  any  intrusion  on  their  haunts,  and  thus  often 
betray,  like  the  ])receding,  the  ajjproach  of  the  sportsman  to 
the  lesfj  vigilant  of  the  feathered  tribes,  by  flying  around  his 
head,  with  hanging  legs  and  drooping  wings,  uttering  intxssant 
and  (juerulous  cries. 

How  far  they  proceed  to  the  South  in  the  course  of  the 
winter  is  yet  unknown  ;  they  however,  I  believe,  leave  the 
boundaries  of  the  Union.  .Xt  the  approach  of  winter,  jirevious 
to  their  departure  for  the  South,  they  arv  observed  to  collect 
in  small  flocks  and  halt  for  a  time  on  the  shores  of  Hudson 
Ray.  Accumulated  numbers  are  now  also  seen  to  visit  New 
England,  though  many  prol)ably  pass  on  to  their  hibernal 
retreats  by  an  inland  route  like  the  preceding,  having  indeed 
been  seen  in  the  spring  on  the  shores  of  the  Missoini  in  jjar- 
ticular  situations  by  Mr.  Say.  They  also  seem  to  reside  no  less 
in  the  interior  than  on  the  coast,  as  they  were  observed  on 
the  shores  of  Red  River,  of  Lake  Winnij^eg  (latitude  49  de- 
grees), on  the  iith  of  August  by  the  same  gentleman;  thus 
subsisting  indifferently  on  the  productions  of  fresh  as  well  as 
salt  water.  At  the  approach  of  aulunni  small  flocks  here  also 
accompany  the  l'i)lan(l  Plover  {To fauns  harfraiiiins),  flying 
high  and  whistling  as  they  proceed  inland  to  k'K.'i\,  but  return- 
ing again  towards  the  marshes  of  the  sea-coast  to  roost.  Some- 
times, and  perhaps  more  commonly  at  the  a])proach  of  stormy 
weather,  they  are  seen  in  small  restless  bands  roving  over  the 
salt-marshes  and  tacking  and  turning  along  the  meanders  of 


m 


h   'i 


•I 


156 


WADING    bIRDS. 


I: 


¥ 


h  I 


the  river,  now  crossing,  then  returning  ;  a  moment  alighting,  the 
next  on  the  wing.  They  then  spread  out  and  reconnoitre  ;  again 
closing  in  a  loose  iiiialanx,  the  gHttering  of  their  wings  and 
■,now-white  tails  are  seen  conspicuous  as  they  mount  into  the 
higiier  regions  of  the  air;  and  now  intent  on  some  more  dis- 
tant excursion,  they  rise,  whistling  on  their  way,  high  over  the 
village  spire  and  beyond  the  reach  of  danger,  pursue  their  way 
to  some  other  clime  or  to  explore  new  marshes  and  visit  other 
coasts  more  productive  of  their  favorite  fare.  While  skimming 
along  the  surface  of  the  neighboring  river,  I  have  been  amused 
by  the  sociability  of  these  wandering  waders.  As  they  course 
steadily  along,  the  party,  never  very  numerous,  would  be  joined 
by  some  straggling  Peeps,  who  all  in  unison  pursue  their  route 
together  like  common  wanderers  or  travellers,  pleased  and 
defended  by  the  access  of  any  comi)any. 

Being  a  ])lentiful  species,  ])articularly  in  the  latter  end  of 
summer,  when  the  young  begin  to  (lock,  it  is  frequent  in  the 
markets  of  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Baltimore,  — 
wUh  us  more  particularly  abundant  about  the  middle  of  August ; 
and  being  then  fat  and  well  flavored,  is  esteemed  for  the 
table.  From  the  sympathy  of  these  birds  for  each  other,  they 
may  be  shot  with  focility  if  the  sportsman,  on  the  first  dis- 
charge, permits  the  wounded  birds  to  flutter  about,  as  in  that 
case  the  flock  will  usually  make  a  circuit,  and  alighting  repeat- 
edly at  the  cries  of  their  wounded  companions,  the  greater 
l)arl  of  them  may  be  shot  down  before  they  i)erceive  the  real 
nature  of  their  danger.  Pike  Plovers,  they  can  also  be  called 
around  the  sportsman  by  an  imitation  of  their  whistle. 

This  species  is  more  abundant  in  the  West  than  the  Greater 
VellowT^cgs ;  but  on  the  Atlantic  shores  the  smaller  bird  is  seldom 
seen  in  the  spring,  and  is  not  very  common  during  the  autumn. 


\/ 


KA 


M 


// 


:^. 


Is^ii^- 


3-.v-^ 


M.    .    .     ■•;    , 


^^^^ 


l^^^i 


-fUl. 


/ 


T.\ 


il 


.^:^w^ 


xv. 


SOM'IARY   SANDPIPER 

GREEN    SANDIMl'F.R. 
TOTANUS   SOM'IARIUS. 

Char.  Upper  parts  brownish  olive,  spotted  and  streaked  witli  white; 
wings  and  tail  dusky,  outer  tail-feathers  white  with  dark  bars  ;  under 
parts  white,  breast  and  *idcs  with  dark  markings.  In  winter  the  phmiage 
of  the  upper  parts  is  dark  ash,  and  the  markings  are  less  distinct. 

A'esf.  On  a  dry  knoll  in  a  wet  meadow  or  on  the  margin  of  a  pond, — 
a  slight  depression  scantily  lined  with  grass. 

^!vs'^     ^   P'i'c    buff   thickly    marked    with    brown    and    lilac; 

1.30  X  0.90. 

The  Solitary  Tatler  of  Wilson  is  probnblv,  with  the  change 
of  seasons,  a  general  inhabitant  of  the  whole  North  American 
continent.  Early  in  May  it  arrives  in  Pennsylvani;i  from  the 
South,  and  a  few  individuals  remain  to  breed,  according  to 
the  above  author,  in  the  marshy  solitudes  of  the  mountains  of 
Virginia,  Kentucky,  and  Pennsylvania;  the  greater  part  of  the 


I 


I  'I ' 


!  ! 


I '' 


K« 


\V.")h\G    BIUDS. 


species  proceed,  however,  to  the  borea'  legion^  a>  far  as  the 
extremity  of  the  continent.  Acct^ding  to  Richardson,  il 
makes  no  nest,  bin  merely  deposits  its  ejig'  on  the  bare  beacii 
or  the  i^ravelly  Ijanks  ot'  rivers ;  in  such  situations  or  near 
mountain  springs,  brooks,  or  |)ool^,  these  birds  are  seen  -^ohtary 
or  by  pairs,  innning  swiftly  when  alarmed  Dr  in  pursuit  of  tlieir 
pre),  and  seldom  taking  wing  until  hard  pressed,  on  which 
occasion  they  make  a  short  circular  flight,  and  soon  alight  near 
the  same  i)lace  to  renew  their  search  for  subsistence.  Occa- 
sionally the  Tatler  stops  and  watches  the  observer,  often  nod- 
ding or  balancing  it^  heaii  and  tail  almost  in  the  manner  of 
the  lairopean  Wagtail  ( A /<>/</ ii7/ii).  It  is  extremely  tmsuspi- 
( ions  of  danger,  proceeding  in  its  usual  occupation  almost 
unconcerned  when  nearly  approached  ;  in  fact,  the  safety  of 
these  birds  is  in  no  small  measure  due  to  their  solitary  antl 
retiring  habits,  as  they  are  never  seen  on  the  straml  of  the  sea, 
nor  collecte<l  into  flocks,  so  as  either  to  fall  in  the  principal 
pall)  of  the  fovvler,  or  to  present  themsehes  in  sufficient 
numbers  for  a  successful  shot.  Their  flesh,  however,  is  well 
flavored,  and  they  are  usually  fat. 

In  Massachusetts  Solitary  Tatlers  are  only  seen  at  the 
commencement  of  cool  weather.  About  the  beginning  of 
September  they  arrive  in  single  pairs  ajiparentl)  from  the 
North,  at  which  time  also  they  are  supposed  to  descend  from 
their  breeding-resorts  in  the  mountains,  and  now  frequent  the 
miry  borders  (.>(  tide-water  streams  and  estuaries,  as  well  as 
small  |K)nds,  and,  in  short,  any  situation  which  affords  the 
means  of  subsistence  with  little  labor.  ''Hiey  feed  principally 
upon  insects  such  a-5  small  coleoptera  and  cater])illars. 

A  pair,  but  oftener  a  snigle  individual,  have  usually  fre 
(juented  very  familiarly  the  small  fish-pond  in  the  Botanic 
(larden  in  ("ambriilge.  Attracted  by  the  numerous  Donatias 
and  their  larvae,  which  feed  upon  the  water-lily  (Nyniphwa 
odorata),  I  observed  one  of  them  tripping  along  upon  the 
sinking  leaves  with  great  agilit}',  expanding  its  wings  and  gently 
tlittmg  over  the  treacherous  element  in  the  manner  oi  the  Rail. 
At  another  time  probably  the  same  indivielual   (who  at  first 


SOLITAKV    SANDl'lPKU. 


•59 


was  accompanied  by  a  mate)  was  seen  day  after  day  cullec  t- 
inj^  insects,  and  contentedly  restinj;  in  the  mlerval  on  the 
border  of  the  pond.  The  water  havnig  l)eeii  ret  ently  let  off, 
the  lily  leaves  and  insects  were  covered  with  mud  ;  as  soon 
then  as  our  little  familiar  and  cleanly  visitor  had  swallowed  a 
few  of  these  insects,  he  washed  them  down  with  a  drink  of  the 
water,  and  at  the  same  time  took  the  precaution  to  cleanse  his 
bill  and  throat.  Intleed,  it  is  remarkable  that  however  dirty 
the  employment  of  these  shore-birds  may  be,  so  neat  are  they 
in  all  their  habits  that  not  a  stain  or  a  soil  is  allowed  for  a 
moment  to  remain  upon  their  limbs  or  jilumage.  This  species 
is  usually  silent  except  when  suddenly  Hushed,  at  which  times 
it  utters  a  sharp  whistle  like  most  of  the  other  kinds  to  which 
it  is  related. 

I'his  bird  is  said  to  swim  antl  dive  with  great  facility  when 
disablt.'d  from  Hying,  and  proceed  under  water  like  the  Divers. 

The  Solitary  .Saiulpipur  is  a  rather  common  bird,  lircediim  fiom 
about  latitude  45°  to  tlie  lower  fur  countries.  A  few  pairs  remain 
in  New  Kngland  iluring  the  summer  montlis. 

Until  ()uite  recently  the  nest  and  egi;s  ol  this  bird  were  unknown, 
and  even  now  so  few  have  been  discovered,  and  tliese  few  so 
imperfectly  identified,  tlial  fresh  discoveries  will  l)e  welcomed. 

My  friend  Banks  thinks  he  found  an  egg  on  the  shore  of  Lily 
Lake,  near  St.  John,  in  1S80,  and  very  jMohaljlv  he  is  correct. 
but  he  could  not  prove  it  absolutely,  for  he  could  not  get  sight  of 
the  parent  on  the  nest  or  moving  away  from  it.  The  mst  was 
HI  an  open  meadow,  and  within  sight  for  a  consideraljle  distance; 
but  though  tile  egg  was  always  warm  when  visited,  tlie  parent  man- 
aged to  elude  discovery.  The  only  Ijird  of  the  family  seen  in  tiiat 
vicinity  during  the  time  the  nest  was  under  ohservation  being  ot 
the  present  species,  and  the  nest  and  egg  l)eing  somewhat  different 
from  those  other  shore-liirds  known  to  breed  there,  led  Hanks  to 
suppose  that  the  Solitary  must  be  the  parent. 


NoTR.  —  One  example  each  of  the  Gkf.fn  Sh.wk  [Totaiius 
nebitlarius)  and  the  Gui'.kn  S.wdi'Iim.i;  {T.  ochtopus).\w\.\\  birds 
of  tile  Old  World,  have  been  taken  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  the  first- 
named  in  F^lorida,  the  other  in  Nova  Scotia. 


^x 


iff'! 


li 


ll 

hi' 

It 


SPOTri:i)   SANDPIPKR. 

TIF-UP.     TI:I:TEU  TAIL.     I'HKT  WEKT. 
AcnilS    MACl'LAKIA. 

Char  Ahnvc,  bright  ash,  tinged  with  green  of  a  metallic  lustre  and 
mnikcd  with  black  spots  ;.  white  line  over  the  eyes;  wings  dusky  ;  under 
parts  white,  i)riifuscly  spotted  with  dull  brown.  In  winter  the  upper  parts 
are  grayish  olive,  and  the  under  jiarts  white  without  spots.  Length  about 
7J4  inches. 

.WfA  Near  the  shore  of  river  or  lake  or  on  the  margin  of  a  pasture, 
under  a  bush,  or  amid  tussock  of  grass  or  weeds,  —  a  slight  dejiression 
lined  with  grass,  moss,  or  leaves. 

A'i,'V>.     4;  dull  buff  or  creamy,  spotted  with  dark  brown  ;   1.25  X  0.90 

TIk-  Pcet-Wcct  is  one  of  the  most  familiar  and  common  of 
all  the  New  I'.ngland  marsh-birds,  arriving  along  our  river 
shores  and  low  meadows  about  the  beginning  of  May  from 
their  mild  or  tropical  winter-quarters  in  Mexico,  and  ]irobably 
the  adjoining  islands  of  the  West  Indies.  Piv  the  20th  of 
April,  Wilson  observed  the  arrival  of  these  birds  on  the  shores 
of  the  large  rivers  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  They  migrate 
and  breed  from  the  Middle  States  in  all  probability  to  the  con- 
fines of  the  St.  l>a\vrence  or  farther,  but  were  not  seen  by 
Dr.  Richardson  or  any  of  the  .\rctic  voyagers  in  the  remote 


SPnTTLD   SANDI'II'KK. 


I6i 


boreal  regions  or  arouml  Ilialson  IJay,  as  hail  been  as^ciud  by 
Huichinscjii. 

As  soon  as  tlic  Peel-W'eet  arrives  on  the  ( oasts,  small  ro\ing 
flocks  are  seen  at  various  times  of  the  ilay  eoursini;  rapidly 
along  the  borders  of  our  tidr-watiT  streams,  living  swift  and 
rather  low,  in  cireuitous  sweeps  along  the  meanders  of  the 
creek  or  river,  and  occasionally  crossing  from  side  to  side  in 
a  more  sportive  and  cheerful  mien  than  tluv  assume  at  the 
close  of  autumn,  when  foraging  becomes  less  certain.  While 
tlying  out  in  these  wide  circuits,  agitated  by  superior  leelings 
to  those  of  hunger  and  necessity,  we  hear  the  shores  re-echo 
the  shrill  and  rapid  whistle  of  'uvv7,  '7(>ec/,  '7i'cr/,  'rcir/,  tisu- 
ally  closing  the  note  with  something  like  a  warble  as  they 
ap|)roa(h  their  c()mpanit)nM  on  the  strand.  I'he  cry  then  again 
varies  to  '/'<v7,  7^'t■{•/  hwrf  ,\vv7,  beginning  high  and  gradually 
declining  into  a  somewhat  plaintive  tone.  As  the  season 
advances,  our  little  lively  marine  wanilerers  often  trace  the 
streams  some  distanc-e  into  the  interior,  nesting  usually  in  the 
fresh  meadows  among  the  grass,  sometimes  even  near  the 
house  ;  and  I  have  seen  their  eggs  laid  in  a  strawberry  bed, 
whence  the  y(Mmg  and  old,  pleased  with  their  allowed  pnjtec- 
tion,  familiarly  probed  the  margin  of  an  adjoining  (Uick-pond 
for  their  usual  fare  of  worms  and  insects. 

Like  the  prece<ling  species,  but  more  frequently,  they  have 
the  habit  of  balancing  or  wagging  the  tail,  in  which  even  the 
young  join  as  soon  as  they  are  Hedged.  l""rom  the  middle  to  the 
close  of  May,  as  they  happen  to  arrive  in  the  different  climates 
chosen  for  their  summer  residence,  the  pairs  seceding  from 
their  companions  seek  out  a  site  for  their  nest,  which  is  always 
in  a  dry,  oi)en  field  of  grass  or  grain,  sometimes  in  the  seclu- 
sion and  shade  of  a  field  of  maize,  but  most  commonly  in  a  dry 
pasture  contiguous  to  the  sea-shore  ;  and  in  some  of  the  soli- 
tary and  small  sea-islands,  several  pairs  sometimes  nest  near  to 
each  other,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  noisy  nurseries  of 
the  quailing  Terus.  The  nest,  sunk  into  the  bosom  of  a  grassy 
tuft,  is  slightly  made  of  its  withered  tops,  and  with  a  thin 
lining  of  hay   or  bent.     The  eggs,  four   in  number,  are  of  a 


If! 
A, I 


1 


M 


v\ 


% 


vol..  n. 


II 


t:-- 


1^ 


;<■! 


11'. 


162 


WADING   BIRDS. 


grayish  yellow  or  tlull  cream  color  marked  with  a  great  num- 
ber of  specks  and  spots  of  dark  brown,  with  a  very  few  of  a 
somewlMt  lighter  shade,  the  whole  most  nume/ous  at  the  larger 
end  ,  'hey  are  about  one  and  one  fi.arth  inches  in  length,  and 
very  vide  at  the  greater  end.  On  being  fiushed  from  her  eggs, 
the  female  goes  off  without  uttering  any  complaint ;  but  when 
surprised  with  her  young,  she  practises  all  the  arts  of  dissimu- 
lation common  to  many  other  birds,  fluttering  in  the  path  as 
if  badly  wounded,  and  general!}-  succeeds  in  this  way  so  far  to 
decei.e  a  <''^g,  or  perhaps  v|uirrel,  as  to  cause  them  to  over- 
look tliv.  ijrood  for  whose  protet  tion  these  instinctive  arts  are 
practised.  Nor  are  the  young  without  their  artful  instinct,  fi^r 
on  hearing  the  reiterated  cries  of  their  parents,  they  scatter 
about,  and  squatting  still  in  the  withered  grass,  almost  ex.utly 
thcT  color,  it  is  with  careful  search  very  difficult,  to  discover 
them,  so  that  nine  times  out  of  :■.'  1  they  would  be  overlooked, 
and  only  be  endangered  by  the  tread,  which  they  would  en- 
dure sooner  .han  betray  their  conscious  retreat. 

At  a  later  period  the  shores  and  marshes  resoun<l  with  the 
quick,  clear,  and  oft-repeated  note  of  /(v7  7trr/.  prcf  lot'rf,  fol- 
lowed up  by  a  plaintive  call  on  the  young  of  pccf,  pccf  pert  ? 
pi'd  /  If  this  is  not  answered  by  the  scattered  brood,  a  reite- 
rated ^wcef,  '7C'tr/,  '7<vv7,  '7i'(^//  '7i'()'/V  is  heard,  the  voice  drop- 
ping on  the  final  syllables.  The  whole  marsh  and  the  shores 
at  times  echo  to  this  loud,  lively,  and  solicitous  call  of  thi; 
affecUonate  parents  for  their  brood.  The  cry,  of  course,  is 
most  frequent  towards  e\ening,  when  the  little  fomily,  sep- 
arated by  the  necessity  of  scattering  themselves  over  the 
ground  in  quest  of  food,  are  again  desirous  of  reassembling  to 
roost.  The  young  as  soon  as  h. itched  run  about  in  the  grass, 
and  utter  from  the  first  a  weak,  plaintive  ptrp,  at  length  more 
frecjuent  and  audible  ;  and  an  imitation  of  the  whistle  of  'ptYf 
7i't'tu'  is  almost  sure  to  meet  with  an  answer  frcaii  the  sympa- 
thizing broods  which  now  throng  our  maishes.  \\  hen  the  note 
appears  to  be  answrred,  the  parents  hurry  and  re])tat  their 
call  with  great  quickness.  The  late  Mr.  William  IJartram,  so 
long  and  hai^pily  devoted  to  the  studv  of  Nature,  with  which 


SPOTTED   SANDl'IPER. 


16: 


he  delighted  to  associate,  informed  Wilson  of  the  spirited  de- 
fence which  one  of  these  I'eet-Weets  made  of  her  yomig 
against  the  attacks  of  a  dround  Scjuirrel.  The  place  was  on 
the  river  shore  ;  the  female  had  thrown  herself,  with  her  two 
young  behind  her,  between  them  and  the  land  ;  and  at  every 
attempt  of  the  enemy  to  seize  them  by  a  circuitous  sweep,  she 
raised  both  her  wings  almost  perpendicularly,  and  assuming  this 
formidable  appearance,  rushed  towards  the  sijuirrel,  who,  intimi- 
dated by  this  show  of  resistance,  instantly  retreated  ;  but  soon 
returning,  was  met,  as  before,  in  front  and  tlank  by  the  resolute 
bird,  who.  with  her  w'ngs  and  plumage  bristled  u]),  seemed 
swelled  to  \.\\'u  c  her  usual  si/e.  The  young  crowded  together 
behind  her,  sensible  of  their  peril,  moving  backwards  and  for- 
wards as  she  a<lvanced  or  retreated,  in  this  way  the  contest 
endured  for  about  ten  minutes,  when,  as  the  strength  of  our 
little  heroine  began  to  fail,  the  friendly  presence  of  tlie  humane 
relater  put  an  end  to  the  unefpial  and  doubtful  contest. 

Voung  and  old,  prev'ious  to  their  departure,  fre(iucnt  the  sea- 
shores like  most  of  the  species,  but  never  associate  with  other 
kinds  nor  become  gregarious,  living  always  in  families  till  the 
time  of  their  de])arture,  which  usually  occurs  about  the  middle 
of  October.  While  near  the  shore  they  feed  on  small  shrim])s, 
coleoptera,  and  i)robal)ly  also  mollusca. 

The  .Spotted  Sandpiper  is  abundant  tlirouglinut  Xorth  America. 
It  breeds  in  New  England  (though  sparinglv  to  the  southward  of 
latitude  43'),  westward  to  Ontario,  and  north  to  the  Hudson  Bay 
district. 


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164  WADING   BIRDS. 

BARTRAMIAN    SANDl'lPJCR. 

UPLAND    PLOVER.     FIELD    PLOVER. 
BaRTIUMIA    I ,( )N(  ;1CAU1)A. 

Char.  Upper  parts  brown,  varied  with  buff  and  black  ;  crown  dusky 
and  divided  Ijy  line  1  if  buff:  wings  and  rump  dusky ;  outer  tail-feathers 
rich  buff  and  with  a  .tibterniinal  band  of  black  and  tips  of  white;  under 
parts  light  buff,  paler  on  chin  :  breast  streaked  with  dusky.  15ill  about 
as  l(jng  as  the  head  ;  legs  rather  long.     Length  about  12  inches. 

^\Vj7.  In  an  open  pasture  or  old  meadow, — a  mere  depression  in  the 
turf. 

y^';',i,o.  4 ;  i)ale  buff  or  creamy,  marked  with  brown  and  lavender ; 
I. So  X  1.25. 

Bartrani's  Tatlcr,  known  here  by  the  name  of  the  I'pland 
Plover,  so  very  distinct  from  the  rest  of  the  tribe  with  which 
it  is  associated  in  the  systems,  is  one  of  the  most  common 
birds  al  >ng  the  sea-coast  of  Massachusetts,  making  its  aiipear- 
ance,  with  its  fat  and  well  fed-brood,  as  early  as  the  20th  of 
Jnly,  becoming  more  aV)undant  towards  the  middle  of  August, 
when  the  market  of  Pioston  is  amply  supplied  with  this  delicate 
and  justly  esteemed  game. 

According  to  the  season  of  the  year,  these  biuls  are  found 
throughout  the  continent,  many  retiring  south  (jf  the  e(iuator 
to  i)ass  the  winter.  They  are  observed  in  May  already  busily 
gleaning  c(jleopterous  insects  on  the  remote  boreal  ])lains  of 
the  Saskatchewan,  and  abound  in  the  extensive  prairies  west 
of  the  Mississippi.  At  this  time  and  in  June  they  are  seen 
common  also  in  Worcester  County  (Mass.),  and  are  believed 
to  breed  there.  'I'hey  are  ecpially  frequent  on  tlie  plains  of 
Long  Island  and  New  Jersey,  and  in  similar  bare  and  dry 
I)astures  in  \arious  ])arts  of  Massachusetts,  jxirticularly  about 
Sekonk,  and  in  Rhode  Island  n' ar  to  the  sea-coast,  where 
they  pass  the  greater  part  of  the  summer.  Wilson,  who  first 
described  the  species,  met  with  it  in  the  meadows  of  the 
Schuylkill,  pursuing  insects  among  the  grass  with  great  activity. 

The  breeding- range  of  this  species  extends,  in  all  ])robabiIity, 
from   Pennsylvania  to  the  fur  countries  of  Upper  Canada,  as 


BARTRAMIAX    SANDPITER. 


165 


well  as  westward  on  either  side  oi  die  Mississippi.  Scattering 
brootls  ami  nests  made  in  ilry  meadows  are  not  uncommon  a 
few  miles  from  Salem,  where  Mr.  N.  West  informs  me  he  saw 
the  young  just  Hedged  during  the  ]jn.sent  season  (1S33)  in 
the  month  of  July. 

While  here  ihey  feed  much  ui)on  grasshoppers,  which  now 
abound  in  every  field,  and  become  so  plump  as  to  weigh  up- 
wards of  three  (quarters  of  a  ])()und.  'I'hey  keep  together  usu- 
ally in  l)roods  or  small  c(jmpanies,  not  in  gregarious  swarms 
like  the  Sandpipers,  and  when  approached  are,  like  Plovers, 
silent,  shy,  and  watchful,  so  that  it  re([uires  some  address  to 
ajjproach  them  within  gunshot.  They  run  fast,  the  okler 
birds  sometimes  dropping  their  wings  and  spreading  the  tail, 
as  if  attempting  to  decoy  the  s])ectator  from  paying  attention 
to  their  brood.  On  alighting  they  stand  erect,  remain  still, 
and  on  any  alarm  utter  three  or  four  sharp,  querulous  whistling 
notes  as  they  mount  to  ily.  In  the  pastures  they  familiarly 
follow  or  feed  around  the  cattle,  and  cm  generally  be  best 
a])proached  from  a  cart  or  wagon  ;  for  though  very  wary  of  man, 
they  have  but  little  apprehension  of  danger  in  tlie  company  of 
domestic  animals.  In  August  the  roving  families  now  ap- 
proach the  vicinity  of  the  sea,  resorting  to  feed  and  roost  in 
the  contiguous  dry  fields.  In  tlie  morning  as  they  Ily  liigh  in 
the  air  in  straggling  lines,  their  short  warbling  whistle  is  some- 
times heard  high  overhead,  while  jjrocceding  inland  to  lcct.\, 
and  the  same  note  is  renewi'd  in  the  evening  as  they  i)ass  to 
their  roosts.  It  is  also  \ery  juobable  that  this  is  usually  the 
time  they  employ  in  their  migrations  to  the  South,  which  (  om- 
mence  here  earl\  in  September  and  1)\-  the  middle  of  that 
month  a  few  stragglers  only  are  found. 

Tlie  rpland  Plover  is  still  abundant  in  New  ]".ni;lan(l  (luiin.LC  the 
migr.it'nns.  and  some  breed  luTe  :  but  in  tliu  .Maritime  I'rovineL-s 
tl'.e  birc'i  is  uneonnnon.  and  it  has  not  been  taken  on  the  north  side 
of  the  (lulf  of  St.  bawrcnee.  It  is  raiTJv  ni.  t  with  in  flu'  region 
oi  the  (ireat  bakes,  but  is  very  aliundani  on  the  Western  i)lains. 


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MARBLED   GODWIT. 

MARLIN. 

LlMC'lSA    FF.nOA. 

Cttar.  Prev.iilinjT  color  dull  rufous  varied  with  black  ;  rump  and  tail 
baned;  bill  pinkish  ;  legs  and  ftut  black.     Length  17  to  20  inches. 

/Vt'st.  Near  a  stream  or  lake,  —  a  slight  depression  sparingly  lined  with 
grass. 

''--.'X''''  3-4  ;  P^le  buff  or  olive,  marked  with  brown  and  lavender ; 
2.25  X  1.60. 

The  Marbled  dodwit  is  only  a  transient  visitor  along  the  sea- 
coasts  of  the  United  States  in  the  spring  and  fall  on  its  way  to 
and  from  its  breeding-place  in  the  North.  According  to  Rich- 
ardson, it  abounds  in  the  summer  season  in  the  interior  of  the 
fur  countries,  being  ])articularly  jilentiful  on  the  Saskatchewan 
plains,  where  it  frequents  marshes  and  bogs,  walking  on  the 
surfoce  of  the  swamp-moss  {Sp/iai:;ihi),  and  thrusting  down  its 
bill  to  the  nostrils  in  quest  of  worms  and  leeches,  which  it  dis- 
covers by  the  sensitive  point  of  its  bill,  thus  finding  means  to 


MARBLED    GODWIT. 


1 6; 


p 


obtain  a  kind  of  food  which  would  otherwise  be  imperceptible 
to  any  other  sense.  It  no  doubt  likewise  varies  this  fare  and 
feeds  also  upon  insects  and  lar\-?e.  These  birds  arrive  on  the 
coasts  of  the  Middle  States  in  the  month  of  May,  and  linger 
on  till  some  time  in  June.  Many,  however,  at  this  time  have 
already  arrived  at  their  ultimate  destination  in  the  North,  so 
that  it  is  not  improbable  but  some  of  these  (lodwits  may  breed 
in  more  temperate  regions  to  the  west  as  well  as  north,  select- 
ing the  high  plains  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  situations  suffi- 
ciently moist.  At  all  events,  they  arc  seen  in  the  lower  part  of 
Missouri  in  the  course  of  the  si)ring,  but  migrate  like  most 
other  waders  along  the  sea-coast  in  the  way  to  their  tropical 
winter  quarters. 

'I"he  Marblec.  Godwit  in  large  flocks  ap])ears  in  the  salt- 
marshes  of  Massachusetts  about  the  middle  of  August,  par- 
ticularly towards  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  bay,  round 
Chatham  and  the  Vineyard ;  their  stay  is.  however,  very  short, 
and  they  at  the  same  time,  no  doubt,  visit  the  eastern  coast  of 
Long  Island.  On  these  occasions  they  assemble  by  many 
hundreds  together,  and  usually  associate  with  the  Short- liilled 
Curlews,  they  themselves  being  called  Red  Curlews,  —  though 
here  they  are  distinguished  also  by  the  name  of  Doebirds, 
and,  being  at  this  season  fit.  are  highly  esteemed  for  the 
table.  They  are  very  shy  and  cautious  ;  but  when  once  con- 
fused by  the  fall  and  cries  of  any  of  their  companions,  great 
destruction  may  be  made  among  them  before  they  recover 
from  the  delusion  :  they  thus  make  re])eated  circuits  ro"nd  the 
wounded  and  complaining,  and  may  be  enticed  within  gun- 
shot by  imitating  their  whistling  call,  after  the  manner  of  the 
Curlew.  Indeed,  without  some  contrivance  of  this  kind  they 
can  seldom  be  ai)proached. 

Tlicsc  birds  are  abundant  in  the  West,  hut  on  the  Atlantic  roast 
thfv  ajjpear  onlv  in  small  flocks  durini^  the  spring  and  autumn 
migrations.  Tlicv  breed  from  Iowa  to  .Alaska,  and  winter  in  Cuba 
and  Centra  America. 


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168  WADLNLi    lilRDS. 


HUDSDNIAN    CODWIT. 

KI.N(i-TAII.i;D    MAKl.lN. 
LlMUSA    ll.KMAMU  a. 

Chak.  Upper  parts  (liisky,  niDttlcd  witli  buff;  liead  and  neck  lufous, 
strcak«.(l  with  iliisky  ,  iiiiiii)  dusky;  tail-covcit.s  mostly  wliite  ;  tail  cliiskv, 
tip])(j(l  willi  white  ;  uiuler  parts  rich  chcstiuit,  barred  with  dusky.  L-juLjth 
1.)  U>  16  inches. 

jVc's/.  Near  a  stream  (jr  hdvc,  —  a  slight  depression,  lined  with  a  lew 
leaves  or  bits  of  grass. 

/:>:,■  r.  3-4 •  grayish  olive  or  hair  brcnvn,  spotted  with  darker  brown ; 
2.20  X  1.40. 

I'lie  Hiidsonian,  or  American  Black-tailed  (lodwit,  though 
abundant  in  the  Barren  (irotintls  near  the  Arctic  vSea,  where  it 
breeds,  is  an  uncommon  visitor  in  the  luistern  and  Middle 
States  of  the  Union,  although,  from  all  analogy  and  the  impos- 
sil)ility  of  the  species  subsisting  through  the  winters  of  its  natal 
regions,  we  are  certain  that  the  whole  retire  into  mild  climates 
to  pass  the  winter.  They  probably,  like  some  other  birds  of 
the  same  countries,  retire  southward  by  an  inland  route,  or 
t'ven  pass  the  autumn  on  the  shores  of  the  northwestern  coast 
of  the  continent.  l>e  this  as  it  may,  the  present  bird  is  among 
our  greatest  rarities,  as  I  have  seldoin  seen  more  than  two  or 
three  i)air  in  the  course  of  the  season ;  these  are  found  on  the 
neighboring  coast  of  the  Bay,  and  called  by  the  market  people 
of  Boston,  Goose  Birds.  1  obtained  a  solitary  pair  of  these 
stragglers  about  the  8th  of  September ;  they  were  very  fat  and 
well  flavored,  scarcely  distinguishable  in  this  respect  from  the 
( 'urlew,  and  appeared  to  have  been  feeding  on  some  C7ri7  or 
other  vegetable  substance.  Several  pair  of  young  and  old 
birds  were  l)rought  to  market  this  year  (i<S33),  from  the  6th 
to  the  30th  of  the  same  month.  An  individual  now  in  the 
Philadelphia  Museum  was  shot  also  near  the  coast  of  Cape 
May,  in  New  Jersey.  They  sometimes  associate  with  the 
Plovers,  and  descending  to  the  marshes  and  the  strand,  feed 
upon  minute  shell-fish,  shrimps,  and  the  roots  of  the  Zosfrra. 
According  to  Richardson,  they  frequent  boggy  lakes,  like  the 


DUWirCHEK. 


169 


preceding  probing  the  Sphai^iniin  and  mud  in  quest  of  insects 
and  minute  shell-i"isli.  'l"he  manners  of  this  bird  are  similar  to 
those  of  the  /..Ji-i/ia,  and  in  most  resjjccts  it  makes  an  ap- 
proa(  li  to  the  Ijlacic-tailed  sfjccies  of  luirope  ;  it  is,  however, 
somewhat  larger,  and  readily  ccMitradistinguished. 

The  Hudsonian  Goilwit  is  more  trL-ciueiitly  seen  on  tlie  AtlaiUie 
toast  tlian  is  its  larger  relative,  hut  it  is  not  at  all  comni'tii,  and  is 
.^een  only  or  generally  in  the  autumn.  It  l)reecls  in  the  higher 
Arctic  rci^ions.  -  on  the  Uarreu  (Irounds,  —  and  winters  in  South 
America. 


XoTK.  —  The  I)i,A(  K-TAlLiiO  (i(juwiT  {Liutosa  liinosa)  occurs 
occasionally  in  Lircenland. 


DOWITCHFR. 

BROWN-BACK.    Ronix-sNipr:.    ki:d-i;keasted  ."^nipe. 

GRAV  .^MPE. 

MacKi  )KHA.MI'VS    (IRI.^F.US. 

Ch.vk.  Summer:  :il)ove,  dusky,  varied  wiili  Ijay ;  rump  white,  barred 
with  clu>kv  ,  tail  witii  l^lack  ami  huff  bars  ;  Ijelow,  l)av,  varied  with  (lu.-^ky. 
In  winter  tlie  upjjer  parts  are  dark  gray,  tiic  rumj)  pure  wiiitc,  and  tiie 
l(3wer  parts  wiiite,  shaded  on  tlie  breast  with  .i;ray.  Leninth  about  10^ 
inches.     .Similar  to  W'ilson'.s  .Snipe,  but  distin.iiuishcd  by  its  Ioniser  Irus. 

Xtsi.  On  marshy  bortler  ot  pond  or  stream,  —  u  depressiiju  in  llie  turf 
iineci  with  leaves  and  grass. 

.^'VVJ-.     4;  pale  olive  brown,  spotted  with  dark  lirown  ;   1.70  X  1.15. 

The  Pvcd-breasted  Snipe  begins  to  visit  the  sea-coast  of  Xew 
Jersey  early  in  April,  arriving  from  its  winter  quarters,  probably 
in  tropical  America.  .After  spending  about  a  month  on  the 
muddy  marshes  and  san<bt1ats  left  bare  by  the  recess  of  the 
tides,  a  more  powerful  impulse  than  that  of  hunger  impels 
the  wandering  flocks  towards  their  natal  regions  in  the  North, 
where,  secluded  from  the  pr\ing  eye  of  man.  and  relieved  from 
molestation,  they  pass  the  jicriod  of  reproduction,  the  wide 
range  of  which  continues,  without  interruption,  fnun  the  bor- 
ders of  Lake  Superior  to  the  shores  of  the  .\rctic  Sen.     <  >ii  the 


.V! 


i' 


I/O 


WADING   BIRDS. 


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ill     I 


plains  of  the  Saskatchewan,  according  to  Richardson,  they  feed 
much  upon  leeches  and  coleoptera,  fur  which,  no  tloubt,  they 
l)rol)e  the  mud  and  sphii\^niiin  of  the  bogs  and  marshes,  — a  habit 
whicli  they  also  pursue  while  here,  on  their  way  to  the  South, 
particularly  collecting  the  larvre  of  acpiatic  insects,  such  as 
Lihiiliilw  and  others.  'I"he  nest  and  eggs  of  this  s])ecies  are 
yet  unknown.  The  ovaiics  in  females  killed  in  May  were 
already  swelled  to  the  size  of  peas.  \\y  the  20th  of  July  or 
beginning  of  August  they  revisit  the  shores  of  New  Kngland 
and  the  ^^iddle  States  in  large  tlocks  recruited  by  their  young. 
These  are  already  full  grown,  in  good  condition  for  the  table, 
and  are  at  all  time^  greatly  esteemed  for  their  excellent  flavor. 
The  Red-breastetl  Snipes  are  always  seen  associated  in  flocks, 
and  though  many  are  bred  in  the  interior  around  the  (ireat 
Northern  Lakes,  they  now  all  assemble  towards  the  sea-coast,  as 
a  region  that  affords  them  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  their 
favorite  food  of  insects,  mollusca,  and  small  shellfish  ;  and  here 
they  continue,  or  a  succession  of  wandering  and  needy  bands, 
until  the  commencement  of  cold  weather  advertises  them  of 
the  approach  of  fomine,  when,  by  degrees,  they  recede  beyond 
the  southern  limits  of  the  Union.  While  here  they  appear 
very  lively,  perfc^rming  their  aerial  evolutions  over  the  marshes 
at  a  great  height  sometimes  in  the  air,  uttering  at  the  same 
time  a  loud,  shrill,  and  quivering  whistle,  scarcely  distinguish- 
able from  that  of  the  Yellow- Legged  Tatlcr  (something  like 
'fr-f'r-fr,  'fc-tc-tc).  The  same  loud  and  querulous  whistling  is 
also  made  as  they  rise  from  the  ground,  when  they  usually 
make  a  number  of  circuitous  turns  in  the  air  before  they  de- 
scend. At  all  times  gregarious,  in  the  autumn  and  sjiring  they 
sometimes  settle  so  close  together  that  several  dozens  have 
been  killed  at  a  single  shot.  While  feeding  on  the  shores  or 
sandbars,  they  may  be  sometimes  advantageously  approached 
by  a  boat,  of  which,  very  naturally,  they  have  but  little  fear  or 
sus])icion  ;  nor  are  they  at  any  time  so  shy  as  the  ( "ommon  Snipe, 
alighting  often  within  a  few  rods  of  the  place  where  their  com- 
panions have  been  shot,  without  exhibiting  alarm  until  harassed 
by  successive  firing.     Besides  mollusca,  they  occasionally  vary 


.  i 

!! 


DUWITCIIEK 


171 


their  fare  with  vcgctnhle  diet,  such  as  the  roots  of  the  Zosfcra 
marina ;  and  1  have  also  found  in  their  stomaclis  the  whitish 
oval  seeds  of  some  marsh  or  a(|uatic  plant.  They  likewise,  in 
common  with  the  Sandpipers  and  many  other  wading  birds, 
swallow  gravel  to  assist  the  trituration  of  their  food. 

Wc  know  to-day  something  more  than  Nuttall  could  tell  usol  the 
nesting  ha])its  of  the  Dowitclier,  or  "Deutscher's  Snipe,"  as  the 
bird  was  originally  called,  to  distingnish  it  from  tlie  "Eiiglisli 
Snipe."  now  known  as  Wilson's.  Our  bird  is  still  called  "  (German 
Snipe  "  at  some  localities  on  the  coast. 

A  number  of  nests  have  been  taken  in  the  Far  Xortli.  where  the 
birds  find  suitable  feeding-grounds  in  the  bogs  and  marshes  amid 
the  barren  lands  bordering  the  Arctic  Ocean.  Stragglers  from  the 
main  flocks  arc  met  with  in  summer  throughout  the  fur  countries 
and  down  to  the  fortv-fourth  parallel;  but  it  does  not  follow  that 
they  breetl  so  far  to  tlie  southward.  Large  flocks  appear  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  during  i)otii  the  spring  and  autumn  mii^rations, 
though  they  .seem  to  pass  over  New  lirunswick  and  Xova  .Scotia 
without  alighting,  in  the  sjjring.  But  they  move  northward  rapidly 
and  with  few  stoppages,  wiiile  they  return  (juite  leisurely  and  are 
therefore  considered  more  abundant  in  the  autumn  in  all  localities. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  Great  Lakes  the  birds  are  rarely  seen,  though 
it  is  known  that  large  flocks  journey  north  and  south  across  the 
(Ireat  Plains.     In  winter  the  birds  are  found  in  South  America. 


I 


:tl 


d 


I 


Note.  —  The  Lo\r,-Bii,iJ:i)  Dowitchkk  (.U.  scrh/xrrrus)  has 
laiely  been  separated  from  <;risi'ns.  It  is  a  larger  l)ird,  with  a 
longer  bill ;  and  though  ciiiefly  contlned  to  the  Western  Province, 
examples  are  seen  regularly  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 


*  11 


I' 


!     v 


) 


WIl, SON'S  SNIPE. 

ENGLISH  SNIPE.     COMMON  SNII'E.     JACK  SNIPE.     SHAD  BIRD. 

CiAI.l.lNAOl)    l)i:!,UAr.\. 

Char.  Above,  mottled  brown,  l)Iack,  and  buff ;  tail  with  subtcrminal 
bars  of  rufous  and  black  ;  crown  dusky,  with  medial  strijic  of  buff;  neck 
and  breast  jiale  brown,  spotted  with  dusky;  bcllv  white,  sides  with  dark 
bars.     Length  abmit  ii  inches. 

A't-s/.  .Amid  :i  tussock  of  grass  or  bunch  of  moss  in  a  wet  meadow  nr 
margin  of  a  marsh,  —  a  slight  depression  in  the  turf  sparingly  lined  witii 
grass,  leaves,  or  feathers. 

Avv*-  .)~4  '  olive  of  various  shades,  spotted  with  brown  and  lavender  ; 
1.55  X  1. 10. 

The  Snipe  of  North  .America,  so  nearly  related  to  that  of 
Europe,  is  found,  according  to  the  season,  in  every  part  of  the 
continent,  from  Hudson  IJay  to  Cayenne,  and  does  not  appear, 
indeed,  sufficiently  distinct  from  the  Brazilian  Snipe  of  Swain- 
son,  which  inhabits  abimilantly  the  whole  of  South  .America  as 
far  as  Chili.  Many  winter  in  the  marshes  and  inimdated  river 
grounds  of  the  Southern  States  of  the  Union,  where  they  ;ire 


,1!; 


WIl.SUNS   SNIl't:. 


173 


seen  in  the  month  of  l-'ebruary,  frec[uentini;  s|)rinL,'s  and  bonj^y 
thickets  ;  others  i)rocee(l  alouLj  the  coast  of  the  Clulf  ot"  Mexic  (^, 
and  even  penetrate  into  the  equatorial  regions. 

By  tile  seeond  week  in  March,  tlocks  of  Wilson's  Snijic  begin 
to  revisit  the  marches,  meadows,  and  low  grounds  ot"  the  Mid- 
tile  States,  and  soon  after  they  arrive  in  New  England.  In 
mild  and  cloudy  weather,  towards  evening,  and  initil  the  last 
rays  of  the  setting  sun  have  disappeared  from  the  hori/on,  we 
hear,  as  in  the  North  of  llurope,  the  singular  tremulous  mur- 
murings  of  the  Snipes,  making  their  gyratory  rounds  so  high  in 
the  air  as  scarcely  to  l)e  visible  to  the  sight.  'I'his  humming, 
or  rather  flickering  and  somewhat  wailing,  sound  has  a  great 
similarity  to  the  booming  of  the  Night  Hawk  ((!'(/// /////c^v/.f), 
but  more  resembles  the  sound  ])rodu(ed  by  (luickly  and  inter- 
ruptedly blowing  into  the  neck  of  a  large  bottle  than  the  whir- 
ring of  a  spinning-wheel.  lUit  however  difficult  and  awkward 
may  be  our  attempts  to  convey  any  adequate  idea  of  this  (piail- 
ing  murmur,  it  seems  to  be,  to  its  agent,  an  expression  of 
tender  feeling  or  amatory  revery,  as  it  is  only  uttered  at  the 
connnencement  and  dtning  the  early  part  of  tiie  ])airing  sea- 
son, while  hovering  over  those  marshes  or  river  meadows 
which  are  to  be  the  cradle  and  domicile  of  their  expected  pro- 
geny, as  they  have  already  been  of  themselves  and  their  mates. 
This  note  is  probably  produced  by  an  undulatory  motion  of 
air  in  the  throat  while  in  the  act  of  whirling  flight,  and  a])- 
pears  most  distinct  as  the  Snipe  descends  towards  the  ground. 
However  produced,  the  sound  and  its  originators  are  com- 
monly so  concealed  by  the  fast-closing  shades  of  night,  and 
the  elevation  from  whence  it  issues  in  cloudy  weather,  that  the 
whole  seems  shrouded  in  mystery.  My  aged  maternal  ])arent 
remembered,  and  could  imitate  wi^h  exactness,  this  low,  wailing 
murmur,  which  she  had  for  so  many  years  heartl  over  the 
marshes  of  my  native  Ribble,  in  the  fine  evenings  of  s]iring. 
when  all  Nature  seemed  ready  to  do  homage  for  the  bounties 
of  the  season  ;  and  yet  at  the  age  of  seventy,  the  riddle  had 
not  been  expounded  with  satisfaction. 

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'74 


WADING  BIRDS. 


April,  my  attention  was  called  to  the  same  invisible  voice, 
which  issued  from  tlie  floating  clouds  of  a  dark  evening ;  the 
author  was  here  called  the  Alewife  Bird,  from  its  arrival  with 
the  shoals  of  that  fish  in  the  neighboring  lake.  From  the  ele- 
vation at  which  the  sound  issued,  probably,  it  appeared  less 
loud  and  distinct  than  that  which  I  have  since  heard  from  the 
Knglish  Snipe.  I  imagined  then  that  the  noise  was  made  by 
the  quick  and  undulatory  fanning  of  the  wings ;  but  this  would 
not  jjroduce  the  shrillness  of  tone  by  which  it  is  characterized, 
as  any  one  may  satisfy  himself  by  hearkening  to  the  very  dif- 
ferent low  bu/z  made  by  the  wings  of  the  Humming  Bird.  In 
this  instance,  as  well  as  in  the  former,  all  my  sporting  acc^uaint- 
ance  were  familiar  with  this  quivering  call,  but  had  never 
decided  upon  its  author.  At  the  same  time  I  obser\'ed,  flying 
high  and  rapid,  a  pair  of  these  Snipes,  probably  instigated  by 
anger  and  jealousy,  who  then  uttered  a  discordant  iiuacking 
sound,  —  something  like  the  bleat  they  make  when  they  have 
descended  to  the  ground,  and  which  they  accomjjany  with  an 
attitude  of  peculiar  stupidity,  balancing  the  head  forwards,  and 
the  tail  upwards  and  downwards,  like  the  action  of  some  autom- 
aton toy,  jerked  and  set  in  motion  by  a  tight-drawn  string. 

After  incubation,  which  takes  place  rather  early  in  the  spring, 
the  humming  is  no  longer  heard,  and  the  sprightly  aerial  evo- 
lulions  which  ajipeared  so  indefatigable  have  now  given  way 
to  sedater  attitudes  and  feebler  tones.  A  few  pairs  no  doubt 
breed  in  the  extensive  and  almost  inaccessible  morasses  of 
Cambridge  ponds  or  lagoons  ;  and  I  have  been  informed  that 
they  select  a  tuft  of  sedge  for  the  foundation  of  the  nest,  which 
is  constructed  with  considerable  art.  The  eggs,  like  those  of 
the  European  species,  about  four,  are  perhaps  alike  olivaceous 
and  sj)otted  with  brown.  These  birds  probably  scatter  them- 
selves over  the  interior  of  the  continent  to  breed,  nowhere 
associating  in  great  numbers  ;  nor  are  they  at  all  common  in  the 
hyperboreal  retreats  chosen  by  so  many  of  the  other  wailing 
birds.  My  friend  Mr.  Ives,  of  Salem,  also  informs  me  that  a 
few  pairs  of  this  si)ecies  breed  in  that  vicinity. 

The  Snipe,  almost  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  conceals  itself  with 


WILSON  S   SNIl'E. 


1/5 


assiduity  in  the  long  grass,  sedge,  and  rushes  of  its  enswaniped 
and  boggy  retreat.  Aware  of  ilanger  from  the  approach  of  the 
sportsman,  it  si)rings  at  a  distance  with  great  rapidity,  uttering 
usually  a  feeble  st[ueak  ;  and  making  several  inllections  before 
it  takes  a  direct  course,  it  becomes  very  difficult  to  shoot,  and 
is  more  easily  caught  with  a  snare  or  springe  similar  to  that 
which  is  set  for  Woodcocks.  Being  deservedly  in  high  repute 
as  an  exijuisite  flavored  game,  great  pains  are  taken  to  obtain 
Snipes.  In  the  spring  season  on  their  first  arrival  th»iy  are 
lean  ;  but  in  the  autumn,  assembled  towards  the  coast  from  all 
parts  of  the  interior,  breeding  even  to  the  banks  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, they  are  now  fat  and  abundant,  and,  accompanied  by 
their  young,  are  at  this  time  met  with  in  all  the  low  grounds 
ami  enswamped  marshes  along  the  whole  range  of  the  At- 
lantic ;  but  ever  shy  and  dexterous,  they  are  only  game  for  the 
most  active  and  eager  sportsmen.  When  on  the  wing  they 
may,  like  many  other  birds  of  this  family,  be  decoyetl  and 
attracted  by  the  imitation  of  '.n-  ■'  ^•ol^'e.  They  are,  like  the 
European  Snipe,  which  migrates  vint^-r  in  England,  by  no 
means  averse  to  cold  weather,  so  long  as  the  ground  is  not 
severely  frozen  in  such  a  manner  as  to  exclude  their  feeding ; 
so  that  even  in  Massachusetts  they  are  found  occasionally  down 
to  the  middle  of  December.  They  are  nowhere  projierly  gre- 
garious, but  only  accidentally  associate  where  their  food  hap- 
pens to  be  abundant.  For  this  purpose  they  are  perj)etually 
nibbling  anil  boring  the  black,  marshy  soil,  from  which  they 
sometimes  seem  to  collect  merely  the  root-fibres  which  it  haj)- 
pens  to  contain,  t>ough  their  usual  and  more  substantial  fare 
consists  of  worms,  leeches,  ami  some  long-legged  aquatic  in- 
sects ;  the  Snipe  of  I-^urope  also  seizes  upon  the  smaller  species 
of  Sti7ra/>(cus.  'I'heir  food,  no  doubt,  is  mixed  with  the  black 
and  slimy  earth  they  raise  while  boring  for  roots  and  worms, 
and  which  in  place  of  gravel,  or  other  hard  substances,  ap- 
pears to  be  the  usual  succedaneum  they  employ  to  assist  their 
digestion  and  distend  the  stomach. 

The  habits  of  this  bird  are  well  known  to  every  sportsman  m 
North  America,  for  it  ranijes    throughout   the   continent,    and    is 


)l'. 


176 


WADING  BIRDS. 


r 

I, 

i  ■ 


common  at  times  in  almost  every  suitable  locality.  Its  general 
breeding  area  extends  from  Hudson  15ay  and  Alaska  southward 
to  al)out  latitude  45  .  and  a  few  nests  have  been  taken  south 
of  that  line.  In  winter  the  birds  are  found  in  tlie  (iulf  States  and 
southward. 

Note.  —  The  Eukoi'Ean  Snii'K  {Gallinai^o ga/lina^o),\\\\\c\\ 
is  somewhat  similar  in  appearance  to  the  American  bird,  occurs 
regularly  in  Greenland,  and  has  been  taken  in  Bermuda. 


m 


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'I        I 


AMKRICAN    WOODCOCK. 

bug-sucker. 

Philohki.a  minor. 

Char  Above,  mottled  tawny,  l)lack,  and  gray;  beneath,  pale  rnfoii„ 
or  tawiiy  buff,  tin.ncd  witli  gray.  Head  i)eciiliar ;  neck  short;  body 
stout  ;  bill  lung  and  straight ;  legs  and  tail  shcjrt.  L>.ngtli  aboiu  1 1 
niches. 

.\(.i/  Sometimes  in  a  wet  meadow  or  on  the  margin  of  a  swamp,  but 
otttn  in  achy  woodland  or  on  a  shaded  hillside,  —  placed  amid  a  tuft  of 
grass  or  at  the  foot  of  a  tree  or  stump  ;  a  slight  depression  sparingly  lined 
with  leaves  or  grass. 

E,i;,i;;s.  4 ;  creamy  or  pale  buff  sjioltcd  with  brown  and  lavender ; 
1.5s  X  1.15. 

'riio  American  Woodcock,  like  the  Snipe,  a])i)ears  again  to 
be  a  near  rejiresentative  of  that  of  Miirope,  wlujse  manners 
and  habits  it  almost  entirely  possesses,  differing,  however,  ma- 
terially in  the  temperature  of  the  climates  selected  for  its  resi- 
dence, confining  itself  in  the  summer  to  the  south  side  of  the 
St.  Lawrence,  breeding  in  all  the  intermediate  space  as  far  as 
the  limits  of  the  Middle  States,  and  retiring  in  winter  for  the 
most  ])art  either  to  or  beyond  the  boundary  of  the  Union. 
The  Murojjean  species,  on  the  contrary,  courting  cooler  cli- 
mates, winters  in  Creat  iJritain  and  the  North  of  I'.iirope,  and 
retires  as  early  as  ^^arch  to  breed  in  the  Alps  or  in  the  frigid 
wilds  of  Swetlen,  Norway,  Russia,  and  penetrates  even  to  the 
icy  shores  of  (Ireenland  and  the  heaths  of  Iceland.  About  the 
same  period,  early  in  March,  the  .American  NN'oodcock  revisits 
Pennsylvania,  and    soon   after  the   New  l-'ngland  or  F^astem 


n 


AMERICAN    WOODCOCK. 


1/7 


States.  Indeed,  so  sedentary  are  these  birtls  at  times  that  a 
few  are  known  to  wintrr  in  the  sheltered  forests  and  open 
watery  glades  of  Pennsylvania  ;  at  the  same  season  also  many 
are  seen  in  tht  vicinity  of  Natchez  in  Mississippi.  Accord inj^ 
to  their  usual  habits,  they  keep  secluded  in  the  woods  ami 
thickets  till  the  approach  of  evening,  when  they  sally  forth  to 
seek  out  springs,  paths,  and  broken  soil,  in  <|uest  of  worms 
and  other  insects  on  which  they  feed.  'I'liey  now  disperse 
themselves  over  the  country  to  breed,  and  indicate  their  pres- 
ence in  all  directions  by  the  marks  of  their  boring  bills,  which 
are  seen  in  such  soft  and  boggy  places  as  are  usually  sheltered 
by  thickets  and  woods.  They  also  turn  over  the  fallen  leaves 
from  side  to  side  with  their  bills  in  (juest  of  lurking  insects, 
but  never  scratch  with  their  feet,  though  so  robust  in  their 
appearance.  The  sensibility  possessed  by  the  extremity  of 
the  bill,  as  in  the  Snipe,  is  of  such  an  e.\(iuisite  nature  that  they 
are  enabled  to  collect  their  food  by  the  mere  touch  without 
tising  their  eves,  which  are  set  at  such  a  distance  and  elevation 
in  the  back  part  of  the  head  as  to  give  the  l)ird  a  remarkable 
aspect  of  stupidity.  When  flushed  or  surprised  in  their  hiding- 
places,  they  only  rise  in  a  hurried  manner  to  the  tops  of  the 
bushes  or  glide  through  the  undergrowth  to  a  short  distance, 
when  they  instantly  drop  down  again,  and  nm  out  for  some 
space  on  touching  the  groimd,  lurking  as  soon  as  they  imagine 
themselves  in  a  safe  retreat.  At  times  in  open  woods  they  fly 
out  straight  with  considerable  vigor  and  swiftness  :  but  the 
effort,  from  the  shortness  of  the  wing,  1:.  always  attended  with 
much  muscular  exertion. 

During  the  mating  season,  in  the  morning  as  well  as  eve- 
ning, but  more  particularly  the  latter,  the  male  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  mate  and  nest  rises  successively  in  a  spiral  cotirse  like 
a  Lark.  While  ascending  he  utters  a  hurried  and  feeble 
warble  ;  but  in  descending,  the  tones  increase  as  he  approaches 
towards  the  ground,  and  then,  becoming  loud  and  swei't.  pass 
into  an  agreeable,  quick,  and  tumultuous  song.  .\s  soon  as  the 
performer  descends,  the  sound  (eases  for  a  moment,  wluii  with 
a  sort  of  stifled  utterance,  accompanied  by  a  stiff  and  balancing 

vol  .     II. 12 


il 


.78 


\VA!JIN(J    HIKDS. 


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motion  of  the  body,  the  wortl  /'/<///(',  and  sometimes  /<///>  /<///, 
is  uttered.  This  uncouth  and  guttural  bleating  seems  a  singular 
« ontrast  to  the  delightful  serenade  of  which  this  is  uniformly 
the  close.  I  heard  this  piping  and  bleating  in  the  marshes  of 
West  Cambridge  on  the  15th  of  April,  and  the  birds  had 
arrived  about  the  first  week  in  that  month,  'i'his  nocturnal 
music  continued  at  regular  intervals,  and  in  succession  until 
near  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  is  prolonged  for  a 
number  of  days  during  the  period  of  incubation,  probably 
ceasing  with  the  new  cares  attendant  on  the  hatching  of  the 
brood.  The  female,  as  in  the  European  species,  is  greatly 
attached  to  her  nest,  and  an  instance  is  related  to  me  of  a  hen 
being  taken  up  from  it  and  put  on  again  without  attempting 
to  fly.  Mr.  Latham  mentions  a  female  of  the  Common  Wood- 
cock sitting  on  her  eggs  so  tamely  that  she  suffered  herself  to 
be  stroked  on  the  back  without  offering  to  rise,  and  the  male, 
no  less  interested  in  the  common  object  of  their  cares,  sat  also 
close  at  hand.  The  European  species  has  had  the  credit  of 
exercising  so  much  ingenuity  and  affection  as  to  seize  upon 
one  of  its  weakly  yoimg  and  carry  it  along  to  a  place  of 
security  from  its  enemies.  Mr.  Ives,  of  Salem,  once  on  flush- 
ing an  American  Woodcock  from  its  nest,  was  astonished  to 
see  that  it  carried  off  in  its  foot  one  of  its  brood,  the  only  one 
which  happened  to  be  newly  hatched ;  and  as  the  young  run 
immediately  on  leaving  the  shell,  it  is  obvious  that  the  little 
nursling  could  be  well  reared,  or  all  of  them  as  they  might 
appear,  without  the  aid  of  the  nest,  now  no  longer  secured 
from  intrusion.  In  New  England  this  highly  esteemed  game  is 
common  in  the  markets  of  IJoston  to  the  close  of  October, 
but  they  all  disap])ear  in  the  latter  part  of  December,  In  this 
quarter  of  the  Union  they  are  scarcely  in  order  for  shooting 
before  the  latter  end  i)f  July  or  beginning  of  August ;  l)ut  from 
this  time  to  their  departure  they  continue  in  good  condition 
for  the  table. 

The  springes,  or  sprinj^ers,  set  for  Woodcocks  in  Europe  in 
places  they  are  found  to  fre(|uent  by  the  evidence  of  their 
borings,  etc.,   are  commonly  formed  of  an   elastic    stick,  to 


Ll   t 


AMKKKAX    WUUDCUCK. 


•79 


which  is  fastened  a  horse-hair  noose  i)ut  through  a  hole  in  a 
peg  fastened  into  the  ground,  to  which  a  trigger  is  annexed  ; 
and  in  order  to  compel  the  W'ooilcock  to  walk  into  the  trap, 
an  extendetl  fence  is  made  on  each  side  by  small  sticks  set 
up  close  enough  to  prevent  the  bird  passing  between  them. 
These  concentrate  at  the  trap,  so  that  in  this  funnel-shaped 
fence  the  bird  in  feeding  is  made  to  pass  through  tlie  narrow 
passage,  and  is  almost  to  a  certainty  caught  by  the  legs. 

As  the  season  advances  and  food  begins  to  fail,  by  reason  of 
inclement  and  cold  weather,  the  Woodcocks  leave  the  interior ; 
and  approaching  the  shelter  of  the  sea-coast  and  the  neighbor- 
ing marshes,  they  now  become  abundant,  and  are  at  such  times 
late  in  autumn  killed  in  great  numbers.  These  are  also  their 
assembling  points  previous  to  their  southern  migrations,  which 
are  performed  in  a  desultory  and  irregular  manner,  their  mo- 
tions, as  usual,  being  mostly  nocturnal  or  in  the  twilight ;  and 
though  many  are  now  met  with  in  the  same  low  meadows  and 
marsJK's,  they  are  brought  together  by  common  necessity, 
and  never  move  in  concerted  flocks.  At  this  season  their 
movements  are  not  betrayed  by  any  note  or  call ;  the  vocal 
powers  of  the  species  are  only  called  into  existence  at  the 
jieriod  of  propagation  ;  at  other  times  they  move  and  start  to 
wing  in  silence.  The  young  run  or  wander  off  as  soon  as  they 
are  hatched,  are  at  this  period  covered  with  a  brownish-white 
clown,  and  on  being  taken  utter  a  slender  bleat  or  clear  and 
loPig-drawn  pi'cp. 

This  famous  game-bird  is  common  in  the  Maritime  Provinces, 
but  is  rarely  found  on  the  northern  side  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence. It  is  common  also  in  Southern  Ontario,  but  in  tlie  Mus- 
koka  district  is  rather  rare.  It  is  known  to  breed  throughout  its 
Canadian  range,  and  southward  through  the  Middle  .States  and 
westward  to  the  Plains. 

NoTK.  —  The  Eruoi'F.AN  WooncocK  (Scolopax  rusticola).  a 
much  larger  bird,  occurs  occasionally  on  tiiis  side  of  the  Atlantic. 


W'\ 


ji 


■  I  'I 


,^<  i 


'  I 


F^ 


VIRGINIA    RAIL. 

RED-BKEASTEI)    KAIL.     LESSER    CLAPPER    KAIL. 
RaII.I  S    VlR(;iNIANUS. 

Char.  General  coloration  rufous.  Aljove,  tawnv  olive  striped  with 
dusky;  wing-cove.'s  rich  bay;  crown  dusky  ;  below,  light  rcddisli  brown, 
paler  on  the  belly.     Length  about  ~V2  inches. 

A'esf.  On  the  ground  amid  a  tuft  of  grass  on  the  marshy  margin  of  a 
lake  or  stream,  sometimes  in  a  salt-marsh,  usually  jjlaced  close  to  the 
water's  edge, —  a  deep,  saucer-shaped  affair  of  reedstalks  and  grass,  and 
rather  compactly  built. 

E^!,',i,'s.  6-12  (u>ualiy  8) ;  pale  cream  or  reddish  buff,  spotted  with  brown 
and  lavender;  1.25  X  090. 

The  Virginian  or  Lesser  Clapper  Rail,  scarcely  distinguish- 
able from  the  preceding  but  by  its  inferior  size,  is  likewise  a 


VIRGINIA   RAIL. 


I8l 


ith 
ill, 

^f  .1 
the 
nd 

Wll 

,h- 
a 


near  representative  of  the  U'ater  Rail  of  Kurope,  with  whose 
habits  in  all  respects  it  nearly  agrees.  Hut  in  every  part  of 
America  it  apjuars,  to  be  a  rare  s|)ecies  compared  with  the 
Mud  lli^n  or  ronunon  Clapper  Kail.  It  is  also  wholly  con- 
fined to  the  fresh-water  marshes,  and  never  visits  the  borders 
of  the  sea.  In  New  Jersey  it  is  indeeil  ordinarily  distinguished 
as  the  Fresh- Water  Mud  Hen  ;  so  constant  is  this  predilection, 
connected  probably  with  its  choice  of  food,  that  when  met 
with  in  salt-marshes  it  is  always  in  the  vicinity  of  fresh-water 
springs,  which  ooze  through  them  or  occupy  their  borders. 
From  this  peculiarity  in  its  choice  of  wet  groiuids,  it  is  conse- 
quently seen  in  the  interior,  in  the  vicinity  of  bogs  and  swami)y 
thickets,  as  far  west  as  the  States  of  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and 
probably  Illinois  and  Michigan.  Its  migrations,  however, 
along  the  neighborhood  of  the  coast  do  not  extend  probably 
farther  than  the  shores  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  as  it  is  unkncnvii 
in  the  remote  fur  countries  of  the  North,  and  retires  from  the 
Middle  States  in  November  at  the  commencement  of  frost. 
It  revisits  Pennsylvania  early  in  May,  and  is  soon  after  seen  in 
the  fresh  marshes  of  this  [)art  of  Massachusetts.  How  far  it 
retires,  in  the  course  of  the  winter,  towards  the  South,  is  yet 
unknown,  though  from  its  absence,  api)arently,  from  the  warmer 
parts  of  the  continent,  it  probably  migrates  little  flirther  than 
the  southern  extremity  of  the  Union.  Its  habit  of  closely 
hiding  in  almost  inaccessible  swam|)s  and  marshes  renders  it  a 
difficult  task  even  to  ascertain  its  presence  at  any  time  ;  and, 
like  the  preceding,  it  skulks  throughout  most  part  of  the  day 
in  the  long  sedge  and  rushes,  only  venturing  out  to  feed  in  the 
shade  and  ol)scurity  of  the  twilight.  Its  food  is  most  com- 
monly marsh  insects  and  their  larvoi,  as  well  as  smn'l  worms  and 
univalve  shell- fish,  it  rarely,  if  ever,  partaking  of  vegetable  diet. 
The  Virginian  Rail  commences  laying  soon  after  its  arrival 
in  the  early  part  of  May.  The  nest,  situated  in  the  wettest 
part  of  the  marsh,  is  fixed  in  the  bottom  <jf  a  sedgy  tussock 
and  composed  of  withered  grass  and  rushes.  The  eggs  are 
similar  to  those  of  the  l';ur()i)ean  Water  Kail,  being  of  a  dirty 
white  or  pale  cream  color,  sprinkled  with  specks  of  brownish 


I82 


\VAI)IN(i    lilUDS. 


I 

'  I 


m 


red  and  pale  purpk',  most  nuincnjiis  at  the  great  end.  In  the 
Middle  States  this  bird  is  believed  to  raise  tw:)  broods  in  the 
season.  The  female  is  so  mtu  h  attached  to  her  eggs,  after 
sitting,  as  stanetimes  to  allow  of  being  taken  up  by  the  hand 
ratlier  than  desert  the  premises,  —  whicli  alTection  appears  the 
more  necessary  as  the  male  seems  to  deserts  his  mate  and  leave 
her  in  the  sole  charge  of  her  little  family. 

About  the  iSth  of  June,  in  this  vicinity,  in  a  wet  part  of  the 
salt-marsh  making  iiito  a  fresh  meadow  near  Charles  River, 
one  moonlight  evening  as  late  as  nini'  o'clock  I  heard  a  busy 
male  of  this  s|)ecies  calling  out  at  short  intervals  in  a  guttural, 
creaking  tone,  almost  like  the  sound  of  a  watchman's  rattle, 
'hiit-a-ci'it  /rr-a/i,  —  the  call  sometimes  a  little  varied.  At  this 
time,  no  doul)t,  his  mate  was  somewhere  sitting  on  her  eggs  in 
some  tuft  of  the  tall  marine  grass  {Sparfinii  i^lahm)  wiiich 
overhtmg  the  muddy  inlet  near  which  he  took  his  station. 
'l"he  young,  for  some  time  after  being  hatched,  are  covered 
wholly  with  a  jet-black  down,  and  running  with  agility,  are 
now  sometimes  seen  near  the  deep  marshes,  straying  into  the 
ui)lands  and  drier  i)laces,  following  the  careful  mother  much  in 
the  manner  of  a  hen  with  her  brood  of  chickens.  When  sepa- 
rated from  the  jiarent  at  a  more  advanced  age,  their  slender 
A'A  A'A  A'A  '^  heard  and  soon  answered  l)y  the  attentive 
])arent.  The  female  when  startled  in  her  watery  retreat  often 
utters  a  sharp,  sipieaking  scream  apparently  close  at  hand, 
which  sounds  like  ''keck,  'keck,  ^kck  ;  on  once  approaching,  as 
I  thought,  the  author  of  this  discordant  and  timorous  cry.  it 
still  slowly  re(XHled,  but  always  appeared  within  a  few  feet  of 
me,  and  at  length  pressing  the  jiursuit  pretty  closely,  she  rose 
for  a  little  distance  with  hanging  legs,  and  settled  down  into  a 
ditch  among  some  pond-lily  leaves,  over  which  she  darted  an<l 
again  (lisai)pearcd  in  her  jiaths  through  the  tall  sedge,  scream- 
ing at  intervals,  as  I  now  found,  to  give  warning  to  a  brood 
of  young  which  had  at  first  probably  accompanied  her  and 
im])eded  her  progress. 

When  seen,  which  is  but  rarely,  the  Virginian  Rail,  like  the 
other  species,  stands  or  runs  with  the  neck  outstretched  and 


CLAli'KK    KAIL. 


««3 


with  the  short  tail  erect  and  freiineiitly  jerked.  It  is  never 
seen  to  pert  h  on  trees  or  shrul)s,  and  is  most  of  tlie  time 
on  its  feet.  Its  llenh  is  scarcely  inferior  to  tiiat  of  the  Com- 
mon kail,  but  its  scarcity  and  diminutive  si/.e  relieve  it  from 
n)U(h  attention  as  game.  Late  in  autumn,  a  little  time  iirevi- 
ous  U)  thiir  departure,  these  birds  (occasionally  waniler  out 
into  the  neighboring;  salt-marshes,  situated  at  a  distance  from 
the  sea,  —  a  route  by  which  in  all  probability  they  prtxeed  in 
a  solitary  and  desultory  manner  towards  the  milder  regions  of 
the  South.  ;\t  this  timt-  also  they  often  roost  among  the  reeds, 
by  ponds,  in  company  with  the  different  kinds  of  blackbirds, 
clinging,  no  doubt,  to  the  fallen  stalks  on  which  they  pass  the 
night  over  the  water.  'Ihey  swim  and  dive  also  with  ease  and 
elegance;  but  like  their  whole  tribe  of  I,ong-l'"oote(l  iJirds, 
they  are  swiftest  on  land,  and  when  pushed  depend  upon  their 
celerity  over  the  covered  marsh  as  a  final  resort. 

Tills  I\ail  is  a  coiiinioii  siiinnKr  \  isitoi  to  the  .Maritinie  I'roviiuis, 
but  raiily  ranges  north  of  the  fu'ticth  parallel.  Westward  its  range 
is  bounded  only  by  the  Paeitie. 


CI-ATPFR    RAIL. 

SALT-WATF.R    MEADOW  HEX.     MUD    HEX.     UUi    RAIL. 

Rai.ia's  i,()NfnRosTr<is  crfimians. 

C!I.\R.  Above,  .isliy  ,c;rav  strijicd  witli  Ijiown  ami  tiiiRcd  with  nlive; 
wings  .incl  tail  binwn  :  IjoIow,  pale  buff,  flanks  darker  .iiid  barred  with 
while  ;  breast  shaded  with  ash  ;  throat  white.  Ciencra!  enhiratinn  .!;ray 
witliout  rufous  tint.  Hill  \ou<^,  slender,  and  decnrvcd.  Length  13K  to 
15;^  inches. 

.,\'(',r/.  Artfully  concealed  amid  the  rank  <;ra.ss  of  a  salt-marsh, — a 
loosely  arranjied  cushion  of  chv  ruslies  and  gras>. 

/?;';■?.  6-13  (usually  about  9)  :  pale  buff,  marked  with  rcddi>h  brown 
and  lavender;  size  extremely  variable,  average  about  1.70  X  120. 

The  Cla]iper  Rail  is  a  numerous  and  well-known  sfjccies  in 
all  the  Middle  and  .Southern  States,  but  is  tinknown  in  this 
part  of  \ew  I'.ngl.and,  or  in  any  direction  farther  to  the  north, 
being  unnoticed  by  Richardson  in  his  "  Northern  Zoology." 


1 84 


\VAlJlN(i   BIRDS. 


i 
I 

»  ! 


!    i 


\  ; 


f|-    !  . 


Acconling  to  Wilson,  those  Rails  arrive  on  the  (:oast  of  New 
Jersey  al)oiit  the  20th  of  April,  and  probably  winter  within  the 
southern  boundaries  of  the  liiion,  or  in  the  marshes  alon^  the 
extensive  coast  of  the  Mexican  (lulf,  as  they  are  seen  by  l-'eb- 
ruary  on  the  shores  of  (leorgia  in  great  numbers.  In  the 
course  of  their  migrations,  in  the  hours  of  twilight,  they  are 
often  heard  on  their  way,  in  the  spring,  by  fishermen  and 
coasters.  Their  general  residenc  e  is  in  salt-marshes,  occa- 
sionally i)enetrating  a  short  distance  up  the  large  rivers  as  far 
as  the  bounds  of  tide-water.  In  the  vast  flat  and  grassy 
marshes  of  New  Jersey,  intersected  by  innumerable  tide- 
water ditches,  their  fiivorite  breeding-resorts,  they  are  far 
more  numerous  than  all  the  other  marsh-fowl  collectively. 

The  arrival  of  the  Mud  Hen  (another  of  their  common 
appellations)  is  soon  announced  through  all  the  marshes  by 
its  loud,  harsh,  and  incessant  cackle,  heard  principally  in  the 
night,  and  is  most  frecpient  at  the  approach  of  a  storm.  .About 
the  middle  of  May  the  females  commence  laying,  dropping 
the  first  egg  into  a  slight  cavity  scratched  for  its  reception, 
and  lined  with  a  small  portion  of  dry  grass,  as  may  be  con- 
venient. During  the  ]irogress  of  laying  the  com|)lement  of 
about  ten  eggs,  the  nest  is  gradually  increased  until  it  attains 
about  the  height  of  a  foot,  —  a  precaution  or  instinct  which 
seems  cither  to  contemplate  the  possibility  of  an  access  of  the 
tide- water,  or  to  be  a  precaution  to  conceal  the  eggs  or  young, 
as  the  interest  in  their  charge  increases.  .And  indeed  to  con- 
ceal the  whole  with  more  success,  the  long  sedge  grass  is 
artfully  brought  together  in  an  arch  or  canopy ;  but  however 
tiiis  art  and  ingenuity  may  succectl  in  ordinary  cases,  it  only 
serves  to  expose  the  nest  to  the  search  of  the  fowler,  who  can 
thus  distinguish  their  labors  at  a  considerable  distance.  The 
eggs,  more  than  an  inch  in  breadth,  and  about  one  and  three 
fourths  in  length,  are  of  the  usual  oval  figure,  of  a  yellowish 
white  or  dull  cream  color  sparingly  spotted  with  brown  red 
and  a  few  other  interspersed  minute  touches  of  a  subdued 
tint  bordering  on  lilac  purple  ;  as  usual,  there  are  very  few 
spots   but    towards   the   obtuse    end.      The    eggs   are   much 


t. 


♦' 


CLAI'I'Lk    KAIL. 


I8S 


cstccnud  for  food,  being  frL'(|uently  collcctcil  by  thf  neigh- 
boring inliabilants ;  and  so  abundant  are  the  nests  ni  the 
marshes  of  New  Jersey  that  a  single  |)ers(jn.  accustomed  to 
the  searc  h;  has  been  known  to  collect  a  hundred  dozen  in  the 
course  of  a  day.  Like  other  gregarious  and  inoffensive  birds, 
they  have  numerous  enemies  besides  man  ;  and  the  crow,  fox, 
and  minx  come  in  for  their  share,  not  oidy  of  the  eggs  and 
young,  but  also  devour  the  old  birds  besides,  l-'rom  the 
pounce  of  ihe  Hawk  they  can  more  readily  defend  themselves 
by  dodging  and  threading  their  invis'ble  paths  througli  the 
sedge.  The  nature  of  the  ground  they  select  for  their  nurse- 
ries and  its  proximity  to  the  sea,  renders  their  thronging  com- 
munity liable  also  to  accidents  of  a  more  extensively  fatal 
kind  ;  and  sometimes  after  the  prevalence  of  an  eastwardly 
storm,  not  imcommon  in  the  early  part  of  June,  the  inarslies 
become  niundated  by  the  access  of  the  sea,  and  great  nund)ers 
of  the  Rails  perish,  —  at  least,  the  females,  now  sitting,  are  so 
devoted  to  their  eggs  as  to  remain  on  the  nest  and  drown 
rather  than  desert  it.  .\t  such  times  the  males,  esca|)ing  from 
the  deluge,  and  such  of  their  mates  as  have  not  yet  begun  to 
sit,  are  seen  by  hundreds  walking  about,  exposed  and  bewil- 
dered, while  the  shores  for  a  great  extent  are  strewed  with  the 
dead  bodies  of  the  luckless  females,  'i'he  survivors,  however, 
wasting  no  time  in  fruitless  regret,  soon  commence  to  nest 
anew  ;  and  sometimes  when  their  nurseries  have  been  a  second 
time  destroyeil  by  the  sea,  in  a  short  time  after,  so  strong  is 
the  instinct  and  vigor  of  the  species  that  the  nests  seem  as 
numerous  in  the  marshes  as  though  nothing  destructive  had 
ever  iiappeneil. 

The  young  of  the  Clapper  Rail  are  clad,  at  first,  in  the  same 
black  down  as  those  of  the  Virginian  species,  and  are  only  dis- 
tinguishable by  their  superior  si/.e.  by  having  a  spot  of  white 
on  their  auriculars,  and  a  line  of  the  same  color  along  the  side 
of  the  breast,  belly,  and  fore  part  of  the  thigh.  'I  hey  run  very 
nimbly  through  the  grass  and  reeds,  so  as  to  be  taken  with 
considerable  difficulty,  and  are  thus,  at  this  early  ])criod,  like 
their  parents,  without  the  aid  of  their  wings,  capable  of  elud- 


if' 


J.f' 


i86 


WADING   HIKDS. 


ing  almost  every  natural  enemy  they  may  encounter.  Indeetl, 
the  principal  defence  of  the  species  seems  to  be  ni  the  vigor 
of  their  limbs  and  the  compressed  form  of  their  bodies,  which 
enables  them  to  i)ass  through  the  glass  and  herbage  with  the 
utmost  rapidity  and  silence.  They  have  also  their  covered  paths 
throughout  the  marshes,  hidden  by  the  mattetl  grass,  through 
which  they  run  like  rats,  without  ever  being  seen  ;  when  close 
pressed,  they  can  even  escape  the  scent  of  a  dog  by  diving 
over  ponds  or  inlets,  rising  and  then  again  vanishing  with  the 
silence  and  celerity  of  something  supernatural.  In  still  pools 
this  bird  swims  i)retty  well,  but  not  fast,  sitting  high  on  the 
water  with  the  neck  erect,  and  striking  with  a  hurried  rapidity 
indicat'.e  of  the  distrust  of  its  progress  in  that  element,  which 
it  immediately  abantlons  on  approaching  the  leaves  of  any 
floating  plants,  particularly  the  pond-lilies,  over  whose  slightly 
buovant  foliage  it  darts  with  a  nimbleness  and  dexteritv  that 
defies  its-  pursuers,  and  proves  that  liowever  well  it  may  be 
fitted  for  an  a(|uatic  life,  its  princii)al  progress,  and  that  on 
which  it  most  dejiends  when  closely  followed,  is  by  land  rather 
than  in  the  air  or  the  water.  When  thus  employed,  it  runs 
with  an  outstretched  net  k  and  erected  tail,  and,  like  the  wily 
Corn  Crake,  is  the  very  picture  of  haste  and  timidity.  On  fair 
grount'  dicsc  birds  run  nearly  as  f;i.st  as  a  man.  When  hard 
pusiu'd  they  will  betake  themselves  sometimes  to  the  water, 
remaining  under  for  several  minutes,  and  hoUling  on  closely  to 
the  roots  of  grass  or  heiliage  with  the  head  downwards,  so  as 
to  render  themselves  generally  wholly  invisible.  When  roused 
at  length  to  flight,  they  proceed  almost  with  the  velocity  and  in 
the  manner  of  a  duck,  flying  low  and  with  the  neck  stretched  ; 
but  such  is  their  aversion  to  take  wing,  and  their  fondness 
for  skulking,  that  the  marshes  in  which  hundreds  of  these 
birds  dwell  may  be  crossed  without  one  of  them  ever  being 
seen  ;  nor  will  thev  rise  to  a  dog  till  thev  have  led  him  into  a 
labyrinth  and  he  is  on  the  very  point  of  seizing  them. 

'I'iie  food  of  the  Clapper  Rail  consists  of  various  insects, 
small  univalve  ^hell-fish,  and  Crustacea  (minute  crabs,  etc.). 
Its  flesh  is  dry,  tastes  sedg)',  and  is  far  inferior  in  flavor  to 


ii! 


CLArrLK    RA-IL. 


IS7 


that  of  the  (\)mnion  Rail  or  Sora.  i:arly  in  October  these 
birds  retire  to  the  South,  and  probably  migrate  in  tiie  twilight 
or  by  the  ilawn  of  morning. 

The  Clapper  Kail  is  abuiulant  along  tlie  AtlaiUie  coast  noitli  to 
Long  Island.  It  occurs  occasionally  on  the  Connecticut  sliorrs. 
but  is  merely  an  accidental  wanderer  widiin  the  Massachusi  tts 
boundaries,  and  but  one  example  has  been  reported  north  of  Ho.s- 
ton  Harbor,  —  capturetl  near  I'ortland,  Maine,  some  years  ago. 


NoTi:.— The  Louisiana  Claim'kk  Rail  {R. /ofn^irosfns  satn- 
ratu:)  was  discovered  i)y  Mr.  11.  W.  Henshaw  and  described  in 
1S80.  It  is  a  smaller  bird  than  the  tyi)e,  —length  about  thirteen 
inches, —  and  is  of  brighter-colored  plumage.  The  brown  of  the 
upper  parts  is  of  a  richer  tint  and  is  more  deeply  tinged  witli  olive: 
while  the  brea.st  wears  a  richer  shade  of  brown.  The  bird  has 
been  found  on  the  coast  of  Louisiana  only. 

Siott's  Raii-,  as  it  was  named  by  M-.  Sennett.  the  descril)er.  or 
Florida  Claim-kk  Rail,  as  it  will  be  liooked  jjrobably  (A*.  Av/^v'- 
rpstris  siof///).w:ii;  discovered  in  18S6.  It  is  the  darkest  vaiii  t\',,f 
this  species,  —  very  dark  brown  or  nearly  black  above,  and  lower 
parts  brown.  The  bird  aj^pears  to  be  .sedentary  on  the  west  coast 
of  Florida,  and  has  been  taken  nowhere  else. 


11 


■i'\ 


nt 

I 


l! 


!: 


Ilv^ 


i.r 


'/ 


!    I 


KING   RAIL. 
ri:d-brkasted  rail,   freshwater  marsh  hen. 

Rallus  EIJ'.GANS. 

C'HAK.  Upper  parts  rich  olive  brown  of  varying  shades.  —  sonietimes 
witha^cilow  tinge,  —  striped  with  black  ;  crown  darii  brown;  a  hne  of 
cinnamon  over  the  eyes,  and  a  line  of  diiskv  thnnigli  the  eyes  ;  wings  brown, 
of  varying  shades  ;  under  i>arts  deep  cinnamon,  darkest  on  the  l)rcast,  fad- 
ing to  ilull  white  on  throat  and  belly;  sides  and  rtanks  brown  or  dusky, 
with  broad  stripes  of  white.     Length  17  to  19  inches. 

A'cit.  Hid  amid  a  tuft  of  rank  grass  in  ;'  fresh-water  marsh  ;  placed  on 
the  ground,  though  sometimes  fastened  to  the  grass  and  weeds  thai  sur- 
round it ;  made  of  grass  and  weed  stems. 

/r;,i,'-.f.  f^-.2;  ground  color  varies  from  pale  buff  to  creamy  white, 
marked,  a[;i'ingly,  with  reddish  brown  or  i)urplish  brown  and  lilac;  size 
variable,  average  about  1.70  X  i.-O- 


SORA. 


189 


Nuttall  must  have  tonfouiulcd  tlie  present  species  witli  llie 
Clapper  Kail,  for  he  makes  no  mention  of  tlie  King  Kail.  Wilson 
tigiired  the  bird,  but  gave  no  description  of  its  plumage  or  habil.>, 
and  the  first  account  of  the  species  was  given  by  Autlubon  in     <^j. 

The  King  Kail  is  not  so  widely  dispersed,  nor  is  it  so  abundant, 
as  most  of  its  congeners;  but  some  writers  have  been  in  error  \n 
representing  its  distribution  as  exceedingly  limited.  It  occurs  reg- 
ularly throughout  the  Southern  and  Middle  States,  and  is  plentiful 
in  Ohio,  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  and  Ontario.  In  New  England  liic 
bird  has  been  seen  but  rarely,  though  e.xamples  have  been  taken  in 
Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  and  Maine.  I  have  examined  in  the 
tlesh  one  that  was  shot  near  St.  John,  X.  D. 

In  habits  our  bird  is  very  similar  to  the  Clapjier  Kail,  ditfering 
chieriy  in  its  preference  for  a  marsh  that  is  drained  by  a  sluggish 
stream  of  fresh  water. 


ill 


SORA. 

CAROLINA    RAIL.     CAROLINA    CRAKL.     COMMON    RAIL. 

PoRZANA   CAROLINA. 

'■m\r.  Above,  olive  brown  varied  black  and  prav  ;  front  of  head, 
stripe  on  crown,  and  line  on  throat,  black  ;  side  of  liead  and  breast  a>liv 
gray  or  slate  ;  sides  of  lircast  spotted  with  wliite  ;  flanks  barred  slate  and 
white  ;  belly  white,     bill  short  and  stout.     Length  S  to  <),'»  inches. 

.Vfsf.  In  a  wet  incaduw  nr  reedy  swamp,  sonutiines  in  a  salt-water 
mar.sli  ;  a  rude  structure  of  loosely  arranged  grass  weed  stems  and 
rushes  hid  in  a  tussock  of  rank  grass  or  ct)arse  sedges. 

/•.\X'-  ^>-'4  (u>uallv  S);  (lark  buff  or  yelli)wi.->h  drab,  often  tinged  with 
olive,  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac;   1.20  X  0.90. 

The  Sora,  or  Common  Rail,  of  .\nicrica,  which  asseml)k'  in 
such  numbers  on  the  reedy  shores  of  the  larger  rivers  in  the 
Middle  and  adjoining  wanner  States  at  the  approat  h  of  aii- 
ttniin,  and  which  afford  siuh  al)tin(lant  em])l()v  to  the  sports- 
man at  that  season,  like  most  of  the  tribe  to  which  it  ])elongs 
is  a  bird  of  passage,  wintering  gi-nerally  south  of  the  limits  of 
the  Union.  These  Rails  begin  to  make  their  appearance  in 
the  marshes  of  Cleorgia  by  the  close  of  l-'ebruary  ;  and  on  the 
2d  of  May  Wilson  obser\'ed  them  in  the  low  water\'  meadows 
below  Philadelphia.     In  the  remote  fur  cotintries  of  the  North 


U 


!', 


•    'u 


190 


WADl.NU   lilKDS. 


ii|)  lu  the  62d  parallel  they  are  common  through  the  summer, 
and  were  observed  by  Dr.  Richardson  to  be  particularly  abun- 
dant on  the  banks  of  the  small  lakes  that  skirl  the  Saskatc  he- 
wan  jjlains.  In  the  vast  reedy  marshes,  swamjjs,  and  lagoons 
of  these  desolate  regions  the  greater  part  of  the  species  are  no 
doubt  reared,  as  but  few  of  them  are  ever  known  to  breed  in 
the  warmer  parts  of  the  continent ;  and  the  history  of  their 
manners  at  the  period  of  incubation  is  therefore  still  a  blank, 
i'he  observations  of  persons  not  conversant  with  the  nice  dis- 
tinctions necessary  in  natural  history  ought  to  be  received 
with  cauti(m,  as  they  might  easily  confound  the  mere  young  of 
the  present  and  the  preceding  s])ecies  as  one  and  the  same. 
The  alleged  nest,  eggs,  and  young  birds  covered  with  a  l)lack 
down  menticjned  by  Wilson  agree  perfecUy  w'th  the  \irginian 
Rail ;  but  the  length  of  the  bill  and  any  other  discriminating 
particulars  are  wholly  omitted.  We  may  conclude,  therefore, 
up  to  the  present  time  that  the  actual  young  and  nest  of  the 
Soree  are  yet  unknown,  and  that  all  which  has  been  said  on 
this  subject  is  but  conjecture  or  a  misapplication  of  facts 
belonging  to  the  preceding  species. 

I, ike  the  other  migrating  waders,  the  Rails',  accompanied  by 
their  swarming  broods,  bred  in  the  North  and  West,  begin  to 
show  themselves  on  the  reedy  borders  of  the  Delaware  and 
other  large  waters  of  the  Middle  States,  whose  still  and  sluggish 
streams,  spreadmg  otit  over  muddy  Hats, give  birth  to  an  abun- 
dant crop  of  the  seeds  of  the  Wild  Rice,  now  the  favorite  food 
of  the  Rails  and  the  Rice  Birds.  On  first  arriving  from  the  labor 
and  privation  incident  to  their  migrations,  they  are  lean,  and 
little  valued  as  food  ;  but  as  their  favorite  natural  harvest  begins 
to  swell  out  and  a])proach  maturity,  they  ra])i(lly  ftitten,  and  from 
the  middle  of  September  to  the  same  time  in  October  they 
are  in  excellent  order  for  the  table,  and  eagerly  sought  after 
wherever  a  gun  can  be  obtained  and  brought  into  operation. 

Walking  by  the  borders  of  these  reedy  rivers  in  ordinary 
seasons,  you  hear  in  all  directions  the  crowding  Rails  scjueak- 
ing  like  young  pi'  «.  If  a  stone  be  thrown  in  amongst  them, 
there  is  a  grne         atcry  through  the  reeds  ;  a  confused  and 


SORA. 


191 


reiterated  'kuk  'kuk  'kiik  \Vk  'k'k,  resounds  from  the  covered 
marsh,  and  is  again  renewed  by  the  timitl  throng  (M1  the  dis- 
charge of  a  gun  or  any  othei  sudden  noise  within  tlieir  hearing. 
The  Rails,  however  numerous,  are  scarcely  visible,  unless  it  be 
at  or  near  to  liigh  water  ;  for  when  the  tide  is  down  they  have 
the  art  so  well  to  conceal  themselves  among  the  reeds  that 
you  may  walk  i)ast  and  even  over  them,  where  there  are  hun 
dreds,  without  seeing  probably  a  single  individual, 

'I'he  flight  of  the  Rails  while  confineil  among  the  Rice 
Ree  's  is  low,  feeble,  ami  fluttering,  with  the  legs  hanging  down 
as  if  the  effort  were  unnatural  and  constraineil,  —  which  may,  no 
doubt,  at  times  be  produced  by  the  extreme  corpulency  which 
they  attain  in  a  favorable  season  for  food  ;  yet  occasiijiially 
they  will  rise  to  a  considerable  height,  and  cross  considerable 
streams  without  any  reluctance  or  difficulty  ;  so  that  however 
short  may  be  their  wings,  the  muscles  by  which  they  are  set  in 
motion  are  abundantly  sufficient  to  provide  them  the  means  of 
pursuing  the  deliberate  stages  of  their  migratory  course.  W'iier 
ever  the  Zizania  and  its  nutritious  grain  alx)unds,  there  tlie  Kails 
are  generally  seen.  In  the  reedy  lakes  of  Michigan  as  well  as 
the  tide-water  streams  of  the  Atlantic  these  birils  are  found 
congregated  in  (piest  of  their  favorite  food.  In  Virginia  they 
are  particularly  abundant  along  the  grassy  banks  of  James 
River  within  the  bounds  of  tide-water,  where  they  are  often 
taken  in  the  night  while  perched  among  the  reeds  ;  being  stu- 
pefied by  the  glare  of  a  fire  carried  in  among  them,  they  are 
then  easily  approached  by  a  boat,  and  rudely  knocked  on  tiie 
head  with  a  ]xuldle,  —  sometimes  in  such  quantities  that  three 
negroes  in  as  many  hours  have  been  known  to  kill  from  twenty 
to  eighty  dozen. 

Fear  seems  to  be  a  ruling  passion  among  the  whole  tribe 
of  Rails  and  their  kindred  allies.  With  f;iculties  for  acting  in 
the  day,  timidity  alone  seems  to  have  rendered  them  almost 
nocturnal  in  their  actions ;  their  sole  address  and  cunning 
seems  entirely  employed  in  flnding  out  means  of  concealment. 
This  is  particularly  the  case  when  wounded  :  thev  then  swim 
out  and  dive  with  so  much  caution  as  seldom  to  be  seen  again 


1  \\ 
I 


: 


V  rl 


ii 


192 


WADING   UIRDS. 


!ii 


I 

! 

I 

It 
U 


'i'l 

'.■if!'! 


i  I 


"(1 


above  water.  They  even  cling  with  their  feet  to  the  rccds  be- 
neath that  clement,  where  they  would  sooner  endure  suffoca- 
tion than  expose  themselves  with  any  chance  of  being  seen  ; 
they  often  also  skulk  on  ordinary  occasions  under  the  floating 
reeds,  with  nothing  more  than  the  bill  above  water.  At  other 
times  when  wounded  they  will  dive,  and  rise  under  the  gun- 
wale of  the  sportsman's  boat,  and  secreting  themselves  there, 
have  the  cunning  to  go  round  as  the  vessel  moves  until,  given 
u])  as  lost,  they  find  an  opportunity  of  completing  their  escajjc. 

According  to  the  observations  of  Mr,  Ord,  the  females 
more  particularly  are  sometimes  so  affected  by  fear  or  some 
other  passion  as  to  fall  into  sudden  fits  and  api)ear  stretched 
out  as  lifeless,  recovering  after  a  while  the'  use  of  their  faculties, 
and  falling  again  into  syncoi)e  on  merely  ])resenting  the  finger 
in  a  threatening  attitude.  At  such  times  and  during  their  ob- 
stinate divings  they  often  fall  victims,  no  doubt,  to  their  enemies 
in  the  watery  element,  as  they  are  sometimes  seized  by  eels 
and  other  voracious  fish,  who  lie  in  wait  for  them  ;  so  that  the 
very  excess  of  their  fear  and  caution  hurries  them  into  addi- 
tional dangers,  and  frustrates  the  intention  of  this  instinct  for 
preservation.  The  swooning  to  which  they  appear  subject  is 
not  uncommon  with  some  small  and  delicate  irritable  birds, 
and  Canaries  are  often  liable  to  these  death-like  spasms,  into 
which  they  also  frill  at  the  instigation  of  some  immaterial  or 
tr, fling  excitement  of  a  particular  kind. 

During  the  greater  part  of  the  months  of  September  and 
October,  the  market  of  Philadelphia  is  abundantly  supplied  with 
this  highly  i-steemed  game,  and  they  are  usually  sold  at  from  fifty 
cents  to  a  dollar  the  dozen.  IJut  soon  after  the  first  frosts  of 
October  or  towards  the  close  of  that  month,  they  all  move  off 
to  the  South.  In  Virginia  they  usually  remain  until  the  first 
week  in  November.  In  the  vicinity  of  Cambridge  (Mass.),  a 
few,  as  a  rarity,  only  are  now  and  then  seen  in  the  course  of 
the  autumn  in  the  Zizaiiia  patches  which  border  the  outlet  of 
Fresh  Pond  ;  but  none  are  either  known  or  suspected  to  breed 
in  any  part  of  this  State,  where  they  are,  as  far  as  I  can  learn, 
everywhere  uncommon. 


i-  } 


S(JkA. 


193 


'I'lu-  usual  method  of  shootinj;  Rail  on  the  I  )ela\varc,  accord- 
ing to  Wilson,  IS  as  follows.  The  spoit^unn  jirocccds  to  the 
scene  of  action  in  a  hatteau  with  an  experienced  boatman,  who 
propels  the  boat  witli  a  jjole.  About  two  hours  before  high 
water  they  enter  the  reeds,  the  sportsman  taking  his  place  in 
tile  bow  ready  for  action,  wliile  the  boatman  on  tiie  stern  seat 
pushes  the  <  raft  steadily  through  the  reeds.  'I'he  Rails  gene- 
rally spring  smglyas  the  boat  advances,  and  at  a  short  distant  e 
ahead  are  instantly  shot  down,  while  the  boatman,  keeping  his 
eye  on  the  sjwt  where  the  bird  fell,  directs  the  vessel  forward, 
and  picks  u])  the  game  as  the  gunner  is  loading.  In  this  man- 
ner the  boat  continues  through  and  over  the  wild-rice  marsh, 
the   birds  Hushing  and   tailing,  the  gunner   loading  and  fniiig, 

while  the  helmsman  is  pur^hing  and   picking  up  the  game. 

which  s|)ort  continues  till  an  hour  or  two  after  high  water, 
when  its  shallowness  and  the  strength  and  weight  of  the  tloat 
ing  reeds,  as  also  the  unwillingness  of  the  game  to  spring  as 
the  tide  decreases,  oblige  them  to  return.  Several  boats  are 
sometimes  within  a  short  distance  of  each  other,  and  a  jier- 
petual  cracking  of  musketry  i)revails  along  the  whole  reedy 
shores  of  the  river.  In  these  excursions  it  is  not  uncommon 
for  an  active  and  expert  marksman  to  kill  ten  or  twelve  do/en 
in  the  serving  of  a  single  tidi'. 

Wo  now  know  that  the  .Sera  breads  al)iUKlantly  in  Wisconsin 
and  the  nortliern  ijortions  of  Illinois.  Indiana,  and  Ohio,  as  well  as 
in  the  more  Ka.stcrn  States,  It  is  probable  that  the  southern  limit 
of  its  breedint;  area  is  in  the  vicinity  of  latitude  42''.  while  its 
northern  rani^r  do.'s  not  extend  Iv  yonr]  the  62(1  parallel.  The  i)irds 
winter  in  the  West  Indies  and  northern  South  .America. 


VOL.   M. 


-   '3 


_!■■ 


!1 

i 

(  .' 

r  .■ 

H 

1 

(  B 

ji 

1 

;l 

,i 

r  iJ 


I 


»l 


h.i 


11^ 


YKLI.OW    K.\  li- 
eu.\Ki-; 

1*()RZAN.\    NOVK.HORACF.N'SIS. 

(,'il.\R.  Above,  browiiisli  buff,  varied  with  black  andwiiite;  tail  black; 
below,  buff,  pale  on  the  belly,  deepest  on  the  iireast ;  flanks  dusky,  barred 
with  dull  white,  under  tail-covcrts  rufcnis.     Length  (>  to  7J-2  inches. 

A'ts/.  In  a  marsh  or  rccdy  margin  of  a  stream  or  pond  ;  a  loosely  con- 
struclcd  affair  of^rass  and  weed  stems,  hid  in  a  bunch  of  sedges  or.ucds. 

^AX'f-  5~9  (I'^i'^dly  about  fj)  ;  deep  buff  or  creamy,  spotted  at  the 
larger  end  with  reddish  brown;   1  10  X  0.S5. 

The  Yellow-breasted  Rail,  though  found  sparingly  in  many 
parts  of  the  Union  and  in  (.'anada,  is  everywhere  rare.  It  has 
been  met  with,  ajiparently.  as  a  mere  straggler  in  the  vicinity  of 
New  \ork  and  Philadelphia  in  the  depth  of  winter,  and  has 
likewise  been  seen  in  Missouri.  prol)ably  on  its  spring  passage 
towards  the  North.  Where  it  winters,  whether  in  the  Southern 
States  or  in  still  milder  climes,  is  yet  unknown. 

Mr.  Hutchins  says,  "This  elegant  bird  is  an  inhabitant  of 
the  marshes"  on  the  coast  of  Hudson  Hay,  near  the  mouth  of 
Severn  River,  "  from  the  middle  of  ^lay  to  the  end  of  Sep- 
tember. It  never  flies  above  sixty  yards  at  a  time,  but  runs 
with  great  rajiidity  among  the  long  grass  near  the  shores.  In 
the  morning  and  evening  it  utters  a  note  which  resembles  the 


YELLOW    RAIL. 


'95 


Striking  of  a  flint  and  steel;  at  other  times  it  makes  a  shriek- 
ing noise."  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  Vellow-breasted 
Rail  is  ijrineipaily  a  Northern  sjieeies,  which  migrates  mostly 
throiigli  tlie  western  Ulterior  of  the  contuient,  and  is  therefore 
very  rare  in  the  Atlantic  States. 

Like  all  the  other  species,  the  present  inhabits  swamps, 
marshes,  and  the  reedy  margins  of  ditches  and  lakes.  In  the 
vicinity  of  West  C'ambridge,  and  throughout  the  vast  extent  of 
wet  marsh-land  which  stretches  over  the  face  of  the  country, 
anil  is  but  rarely  visited  by  man,  among  the  Virginia  Kails 
and  a  few  stragglers  of  the  Sora  we  occasionally  meet  with 
this  small  and  remarkable  species.  The  first  individual  ever 
brought  to  me,  late  in  autumn,  was  surprised,  while  feeding  on 
insects  or  seeds,  by  the  margin  of  a  small  pool  overgrown  with 
the  leaves  of  the  water-lily  {Xyniphaa  odorata).  Without 
attemi)ting  either  to  fly  or  swim,  it  darted  nimbly  over  the 
floating  leaves,  and  would  have  readily  escaped,  but  for  the 
arrest  of  the;  fatal  gun,  which  baffled  its  cunning  and  precau- 
tion. When  wounded,  this  bird  also  swims  and  tlives  with 
great  address. 

On  the  6th  of  October,  1831,  having  spent  the  night  in  a 
lodge  on  the  borders  of  Fresh  Pond,  employed  for  decoying 
and  shooting  ducks,  I  heard  about  sunrise  the  Yellow-breasted 
Rails  begin  to  stir  among  the  reeds  {Arniu/o  phrai^mifis)  that 
thickly  skirt  this  retired  border  of  the  lake,  and  in  which, 
among  a  host  of  various  kinds  of  Blackbirds,  they  had  for  some 
time  roosted  every  night.  As  soon  as  awake,  they  called  out 
in  an  abrupt  and  cackling  cry,  ^kirk,  'krvk,  ^kprk.  'kirk,  kiik 
'k'kh,  which  note,  apparently  from  the  young,  was  answered  by 
the  parent  (probably  the  hen),  in  a  lower  soothing  tone.  The 
whole  of  these  uncouth  and  guttural  notes  have  no  bad  resem- 
blance to  the  croaking  of  the  tree-frog,  as  to  sound.  This  call 
and  answer,  uttered  every  morning,  is  thus  kept  up  for  several 
minutes  in  various  tones,  till  the  whole  family,  separated  for 
the  night,  have  met  and  satisfactorily  recognized  each  other. 
These  are,  no  doubt,  migrating  broods  who  have  arrivetl  from 
the  North  about  the   time  stated   for  their  departure  by  Mr. 


1 


W- 


% 


\  ■ 


\  : 


1.; 


^ 


11.'. 


i  « 


Mi 


w 


196 


\\Al)IN(i    lllkDS. 


Hul<  liins,  liy  the  first  week  in  NovciiilxT  their  cackling 
ceases  ;  and  as  they  seem  to  migrate  hither  witii'mt  delay,  and 
with  great  expedition  for  a  bird  with  such  short  wings,  it  is 
]>r()l)al)k'  they  proceed  at  once  to  the  swami)s  of  the  Southern 
States. 

This  si)i'cies  is  not  as  ahuuchint  as  either  the  Virginia  Railortlio 
Sora.  hut  it  is  not  so  rare  as  many  writers  have  supposed.  It  is 
sutli  a  skulker  and  hides  so  tpiiekly  that  it  generally  eseapes  obser- 
vation even  when  close  at  hand.  The  bird  is  a  summer  resident  of 
New  England  and  the  Maritime  I'rovinecs.  and  has  been  taken  in 
the  Hudson  Hay  district.  It  is  (piite  common  in  Ohio,  and  has 
been  found  nesting  in  Illinois.     It  winters  in  the  Southern  States. 


1?I..\("K     RATI,. 

PokZANA     JA.MAU  KNSIS. 

Char  Mead,  neck,  and  lower  part',  dark  slate  or  dusky;  back  rich 
brown  ;  wings  and  tail  brownisli  lijack,  marked  with  wiiitc  ;  belly  and 
flanks  barred  with  white.     Length  about  5  inches. 

y\1,v/.  In  a  wet  tneadow  or  reedy  marsh,  hid  amid  the  rank  grass;  a 
compactly  made,  deep  ciii>  of  grass  and  weed  stems. 

.^'!s,;'f-  ^>-io;  dull  white  or  creamy,  marked  all  over  with  fine  sjiots  of 
reddish  brnwn  ;  1.00  X  o.So. 

This,  the  smallest  of  our  Rails,  was  not  mentioned  by  Nuttall, 
though  it  iiad  been  discovered  louii'  before  his  time,  and  was  given 
by  Aiulubon.  It  has  always  been  considered  a  rare  bird,  being 
seldom  found  on  the  .Atlantic  coast,  and  only  a  few  e.xarnples  being 
seen  north  of  New  Jersev.  ConnecticiU  is  its  northern  limit.  In 
the  western  division  of  this  I'astern  Province  it  is  more  common, 
and  goes  somewhat  farther  north  :  a  number  of  nests  having  been 
taken  in  nortliern  Illinois.  In  habits  this  species  does  not  differ 
materially  from  its  congeners. 


Xoi'i:.  The  Si'Otti'.d  Ckakk  {Porzana  porzana),  an  Old 
World  species,  occasionally  visits  (irecniand. 

The  Corn  Ckaki:.  or  I.an'd  Rah,  (Ov.i  (vr.r),  also  an  Old  World 
species,  occurs  regularly  in  Greenland,  and  has  been  taken  on  Long 
Island  and  Bermuda. 


•Id 


AMMKKAN   COOl'. 

COOT.     MUD  MEN.     MARSH  HEN.     MIIADUW  IIKN.     MUOK  IIKN. 

CROW    DUCK. 

l-'riU  A     VMl.KK  A\A. 

CliAR.  ficnural  plumage  d.irk  ilaic,  sh.Kling  to  dull  black  on  the  he. id, 
and  to  gray  (ju  tlu-  belly  ;  etlye  of  liic  winiiis  and  lijis  of  the  secondaries 
white;  frontal  shield  and  spots  on  the  1)111  dark  l)r(nvn;  feet  grtHMiish, 
toes  with  C(jnspicuous  lobes  or  "  llajjs."  Length  from  13  to  \6  inches. 
The  "frontal  shiiid  "  is  a  horny  jjlatc  which  extends  from  the  bill  over 
the  f(jrehead.  It  i-.  one  distinguishing  character  of  the  Coots  and 
Gallinules. 

A'cst.  Amid  the  reeds  or  rank  grass  on  the  margin  of  a  sec  hided  jiond 
or  sluggish  slre.un,  scjnietimes  on  a  knoll  near  the  water,  attaehetl  to  the 
reeds,  often  floating  on  llio  water;  a  bulkv  affair  of  hmselv  arranged  reeil> 
or  sedge  stems,  scantily  lined 'vith  gras>.  and  jilaci d  on  a  high  platform. 
This  platform  sometimes  rests  on  the  tops  of  the  >urrounding  reeds,  whicii 
are  bent  tlown  to  receive  it. 

/v;',i,',r.  6-15  (usually  about  10)  ;  pale  butf,  i)rofusely  >|)(jlteil  with  dark 
brown  and  lilac;  size  very  variable,  aver.ige  about  1.90   <  i.|0. 


m 


\: 


'1 


li 


198 


WAD  IXC    IJIKDS. 


.1.: 


',|i 


'I'he  C!()()t  of  America,  so  very  similar  to  that  of  l^iiropc, 
according  to  the  season  is  found  in  ahnost  every  part  ot  the 
continent,  from  the  f^rassy  lal;e^  that  skirt  the  Saskatchewan 
plains,  in  the  53tli  |)arallel,  to  the  reedy  lagoons  of  Mast  l'"l(;rida 
and  the  marshes  of  Jamaica.  To  the  west,  the  species  seems 
to  inhabit  thi- waters  of  the  C'ohimbia,  in  the  remote  territory 
of  Oregon.  Mr.  .Say  observed  it  also  in  the  lower  part  of  Mis- 
souri, and  in  Long's  i-'-xpedition  it  was  seen  in  Lake  Winnipeg 
on  the  7ih  of  June.  Mr.  Swainson  has  also  received  speci 
mens  from  the  distant  tableland  of  Mexico.  We  may  there- 
fore conclude  almost  with  certainty  that  the  Coot  of  .America, 
indifferent  to  climate,  dwells  and  breeds  in  every  part  of  the 
North  .\merican  continent,  over  a  range  of  prcjbably  more  than 
fifty  degrees  of  latitude  I  .Nocturnal  in  their  habits,  and  dis- 
]»er>ing  themselves  far  and  wide  over  every  watery  solitude. 
tlu'>.e  birds  seem  in  many  places  to  have  disappeared  for  the 
si-ason,  until  they  in  large  numl)ers,  swelled  by  their  prolific 
broods,  and  im])elled  at  the  approach  of  winter  to  migrate  for 
food,  now  begin  to  show  themselves  in  the  lakes.  ])ools,  and 
estuaries  in  the  vi(  iuily  of  tlu'  sea,  from  which  they  gradually 
rece<le  towards  the  South  as  the  severity  of  the  season  com])els 
them,  being  unable  to  sid)sist  amidst  the  ice.  In  this  way 
they  proceed,  accumulating  in  numbers  as  they  advance,  so 
that  in  the  inundated  and  marshy  tracts  of  I'lorida,  particularly 
along  the  banks  of  the  St.  Juan,  they  are  seen  in  winter,  con- 
gregated in  vast  and  noisy  llocks.  In  the  milder  latitudes, 
their  whole  migrations  will  be  limited  to  a  traverse  from  the 
interior  to  the  vicinity  of  the  sea,  while  those  which  visit  the 
wilderness  of  Upper  Canada,  where  they  arc  abundant  in  thi' 
summer,  will  jirobably  migrate  fn^m  twenty-five  to  thirty 
degrees  every  spring  and  autumn. 

The  Coots  arrive  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  beginning  of 
October.  They  ajipcnr  in  l-'resh  Pond,  Cambridge,  about  the 
first  week  in  Sei)tember.  A  pair  took  up  their  residence  in 
this  small  lake  about  the  15th  of  Ajiril  :  and  in  June  they  are 
oc(-asionallv  seen  accompanii'd  l)y  their  young.  The  nest,  eggs. 
and    manners     during  the   period    of   rejiroduction     are    yet 


f '  i 


AMliUlCAN    C(H>| 


H/J 


unknown,      'liinoroiis  ;inil  ilcfcnt  tk'ss,  ilu'V  ^ot-k  out  the   ri' 
niotcht  M)litii(lL'>)  to  bri'id,  wluii.',  ;uni<l>t   ilnll;l^s;ll)lc■  bog^  and 
pools,  the  tVw  individuals  \vlii(  h  dwill   in  the  same  \i(  inity  are 
readily   overlooked     and   with   ditruulty  discovered,    from    the 
pertinac  ity  of  the  older  birds  in  hiding  themselves  wholly  by 
(lay.     It  is  therefore  only  when  the  affect ion>  and   nece^Miii^ 
of  the  species  increase  that  they  are  urged  to  make  more  vi^i 
ble   exertions,  and  throw  aside,  for  a   time,  the  (  harac  teri^tic 
indolence  of  their   furtive  nature.     We  now  see  them  abroad, 
accompanied   by   their  more   active   and    incautious  offspring. 
night  and  morning,  without  exhibiting  much  timidity,  the  young 
s|)orting   and   feeding  with   careless  ( onfidenc  e  in   their  \u  kit 
element.     They  are  at  this  time  easily  apjjroached   ami   shoi, 
as  they  do  not  appear  to  dive  with  the  same  promptness  as  the 
European  s])ecies. 

The  (jld  birds,  ever  watchful  and  solicitous  ior  their  brood, 
with  which  they  still  apjjcar  to  associate,  wlu  n  alarmed  iittir 
at  times  a  sort  of  hoarse  ' hnd;,  which  serves  as  a  signal  either 
to  dive  or  swim  away.  At  lliis  reason  of  the  year  Mr.  .\. 
W'yeth  informs  me  that  he  has  heard  the  Cool  repeatedly 
utter  a  whi//ing  sound,  which  he  can  onI\  couipare  to  the 
plunge  of  large  shot  when  Hred  intij  water,  ll  might  possibly 
1)e  the  small  and  bouncing  leaps  with  wliit  li  the  associated 
young  of  the  common  species  amuse  themselves  at  almost  all 
Iiours  of  the  day.  In  Ivist  I"'lorida,  where  they  a])pear,  ai  - 
cording  to  Hartram.  to  assemble  and  breed  in  great  nund)ers, 
they  are  very  chattering  and  n>)isy,  and  may  be  heard  calling 
on  ea<:h  other  almost  night  and  day.  \\  itli  us  the)'  are,  how- 
ever, very  taciturn,  though  tame,  and  witli  many  other  birds 
appear  to  have  no  voice  but  for  the  exciting  pericjd  of  the 
nuptial  season. 

The  ("oots  of  luirope  have  many  enemies  in  tlie  predacious 
birds  which  surround  tliem.  ]):irticularly  the  Moor  Ilu//ard^ 
which  not  only  destroys  the  young,  but  sucks  the  eggs  to  sue  li 
an  extent  that  notwithstanding  their  great  prolificacy,  they  lav- 
ing from  twelve  to  eighteen  eggs,  the  numliers  arc  so  thinned 
by  depredation  that  not  above  one  tenth  e>r:ipr  the  talons  of 


ll 


1 ,1 


y\ 


200 


WADING   BIRDS. 


■■''! 
1    ' 


!:■ 


rapacious  species.  Indeed,  it  is  only  the  second  hatch,  of 
about  eight  eggs,  more  securely  concealed  among  the  flags  on 
the  margins  of  pools,  that  ever  survive  to  renew  the  species. 
'I'he  nest,  secreted  in  this  manner  among  the  rank  herbage,  is 
placed  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  but  raised  above  it  by  piling 
together  a  quantity  of  coarse  materials,  in  order  to  keep  the 
eggs  dry.  In  this  buoyant  state  a  sudden  gale  of  wind  has 
been  known  to  draw  them  from  their  slender  moorings,  and 
nests  have  thus  been  seen  floating  on  the  water,  with  the  birds 
still  sitting  u])on  them,  as  in  the  act  of  navigating  over  the  pool 
on  which  they  had  resided.  The  female  is  said  to  sit  twenty- 
two  or  twenty-three  days  ;  the  young,  now  covered  with  a 
black  down,  quit  the  nest  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched,  and  are 
then  cherished  under  the  wings  of  the  mother,  and  sleep  around 
her  ])eneath  the  reeds  ;  she  also  leads  them  to  the  water,  in 
which  they  swim  and  dive  from  the  moment  of  their  liberation 
from  the  shell. 

When  closely  pursiied  in  the  water,  the  Coot  sometimes 
makes  for  the  shore,  and  from  the  compressed  form  of  its  body, 
though  so  awkward  in  its  gait,  can  make  considerable  progress 
through  the  grass  and  reeds.  When  driven  to  take  wing  on 
the  water,  it  rises  low  and  with  reluctance,  fluttering  along  the 
surface  with  both  the  wings  and  feet  pattering  over  it,  for  which 
reason,  according  to  Lawson,  in  his  "  History  of  Carolina,"  they 
had  in  that  country  received  the  name  of  Flustcirrs. 

The  food  of  the  .American  Coot,  like  that  of  the  other  species, 
is  chiefly  vegetable  ;  it  lives  also  upon  small  fluviatile  shells 
and  acpuitic  insects,  to  all  which  it  adds  gravel  and  sand,  in 
the  manner  of  common  fowls.  A  specimen  which  I  examined 
on  the  19th  of  September  had  the  stomach,  very  capacious 
and  muscular,  filled  with  tops  of  the  water  milfoil  (J/ivvV'/Z/i/- 
//////  vcrticillatinn),  and  a  few  seeds  or  nuts  of  a  small  species 
of  bur-reed  {Spai-i^aiiiinii).  l'"rom  the  contents  of  the  intes- 
tines, which  were  enormous,  aquatic  vegetable  >  appeared  now 
to  be  their  principal  food. 

In  the  month  of  November  the  Coot  leaves  the  Northern 
and  Middle  States,  and  retires  by  night,  according  to  its  usual 


iU 


PURPLE  GALLIXULE. 


201 


■d 


habits,  to  pass  the  winter  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  Union, 
and  probably  extends  its  journeys  along  all  the  shores  of  the 
Mexican  (lulf. 

The  Coot  is  still  a  common  bird  throughout  the  temperate  por- 
tions of  North  America,  and  examples  have  been  taken  in  Green- 
land and  Alaska.  It  winters  in  the  Southern  States  and  southward 
through  the  West  Indies  and  Central  America. 


NoTK.  —  The  European  Coot  {J-'itiicn  atra)  has  been  taken  in 
Greenland. 


PURPLE   GAUPINUI.K. 

loNORNIS    M.-XKIINICA. 

Char.  Back  bright  olive  ;  wings  of  deeper  green  and  shaded  with 
blue;  head,  neck,  and  Ijieast  rich  bhiish  purple;  belly  darker ;  fruntal 
.-hield  blue;  bill  red,  tipped  with  jellow  ;  legs  yellow.  Length  about 
'3/^  inches. 

Xcst.  In  a  marsh;  fastened  to  rank  grass  or  reeds,  and  hidden  by 
the  stems  to  which  it  is  attached,  —  made  of  dried  and  fresh  grass  and 
reeds  loosely  ai.    iged. 

^^}{.K^-  7~'-  (usually  about  9) ;  pale  buff  or  creamy,  spotted  chiefly 
around  the  larger  end  with  reddish  brown  and  lavender;   1.70  X  1.15. 

This  very  si)len(lid  but  incongruous  species  of  (iallinide  is 
in  the  United  States  a  bird  of  passage,  wintering  in  tropical 
America,  and  passing  the  simimer,  or  breeding-season,  in  the 
marshes  of  Florida  and  the  contiguous  parts  of  the  State  of 
Georgia,  where  it  arrives  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  retiring 
south  with  its  brood  in  the  course  of  the  autumn,  and  probably 
wintering,  according  to  its  habits,  in  the  swampy  maritime  dis- 
tricts along  the  coast  of  the  Mexican  Gulf  .\n  instance  is 
given  by  ^^r.  Ord  of  one  of  these  birds  being  driven  out  to 
sea  and  taking  shelter  on  board  of  a  vessel  bound  from  New 
Orleans  to  Philadelphia,  while  in  the  Gidf.  This  happemd  on 
the  24th  of  May.  and  therefore  coidd  only  have  been  a  bewil- 
dered straggler  accidentally  carried  out  to  sea  withoiu  any  in- 
tention of  migrating;  nor  is  it  probable  that  a  birtl  of  such 


•  \ 


>  11 


i 

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V 

it 


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■V 


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r 

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1  i: 

r\ 


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f. 

'  1 

L 

202 


WADING   BIRDS. 


short  wings  as  those  which  characterize  the  genus  would  make 
the  attempt  to  travel  any  considerable  distance  over  sea  while 
a  route  by  land  equally  favorable  for  the  purpose  offered. 
Little  reliance,  therefore,  is  to  be  placed  upon  these  accidents 
as  proving  the  maritime  migratory  habits  of  birds.  Several 
hundred  miles  from  land,  towards  the  close  of  last  June  (1833), 
in  the  latitude  of  the  Capes  of  Virginia,  the  vessel  in  which  I 
was  sailing  for  the  port  of  New  York  was  visited  by  two  or 
three  unfortunate  Swallows,  who,  overcome  by  hunger  and 
fatigue,  alighted  for  a  while  on  the  rigging  of  our  ship, 
whence  they,  in  all  probabilit}',  proceeded  farther  out  to  sea 
and  perished.  At  this  season  of  the  year  they  could  not  be 
migrating,  but  had  wandered  out  upon  the  barren  bosom  of 
the  deceiving  ocean,  and  would,  in  consequence  of  exhaustion 
and  famine,  soon  after  fall  a  prey  to  the  remorseless  deep. 

The  Martinico  Oallinule  while  in  the  Southern  States  fre- 
quents the  rice-fields,  rivulets,  and  fresh-water  pools  in  com- 
pany with  the  more  common  Florida  species.  It  is  a  vigorous 
and  active  bird,  bites  hard  when  irritated,  runs  with  agility,  and 
has  the  faculty,  like  the  Sultanas,  of  hokling  on  objects  very 
firmly  with  its  toes,  which  are  extremely  long,  and  spread  to  a 
great  extent.  When  walking,  it  jerks  its  tail  like  a  common 
(killinule.  In  its  native  marshes  it  is  very  shy  and  vigilant ; 
and  continually  eluding  pursuit,  can  be  flushed  only  with  the 
aid  of  a  dog. 

This  richly  apparelled  and  beautiful  bird  is  found  regularly  and 
is  quite  common  in  all  the  Southern  and  C.ulf  States,  and  stragglers 
are  I'requentlv  seen  northward  to  New  England  and  westward  to 
Wisconsin.  The  only  examples  reported  from  Canada  have  been 
taken  in  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick.  These  lairds  do  not 
leave  the  United  States  in  winter,  as  Nuttall  supposed ;  they  are 
found  in  the  South  tlu-oughout  the  year. 

They  are  called  "  Sultanas  ""  in  Jamaica,  where  Mr.  C.osse  found 
them  quite  common  :  and  this  writer  .states  that  those  he  .saw  were 
extremelv  indifferent  to  his  approach,  allowing  him  to  walk  to 
within  a  few  feet  of  where  they  were  feeding,  without  manifesting 
any  fear. 

Audubon  states  that  after  the  brood  is  hatched  the  familv  retires 


FLORIDA   GALLINULE. 


203 


from  the  vicinity  of  the  pools  and  streams  to  the  interior  of  the 
savannas  ;  but  towards  autumn  they  return  again  to  the  margins,  and 
at  this  later  season  they  became  shy  and  more  vigilant. 

These  birds  partake  of  a  variety  of  food,  their  favorite  diet  being 
a  mixture  of  water-snails  and  plantains. 


FLORIDA    GALLINULE. 

COMMON  GALLINULE.     RED-UILLED   MUD  HEN.    WATER  HEN. 

(IaM.INULA     (JALKAIA. 

Char.  Uniform  grayish  black,  the  back  tinged  with  olive  brown,  the 
belly  paler  than  the  breast;  flanks  striped  with  white  ;  bill  and  frontal 
shield  bright  red,  the  bill  tipped  with  yellow  ;  legs  greenish.  Lcngtii 
about  13}^  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  swamp  or  marsh,  —  a  bulky  and  clumsily  arranged  affair  of 
reeds  or  (lags  scantily  lined  with  coarse  grass.  The  nest  is  somL-tinies 
placed  on  a  platform  made  by  bending  down  the  tops  of  the  surrounding 
flags  or  rushes,  (ir  it  is  fastened  to  the  stems  of  the  flags  or  to  tlic 
branches  of  a  bush.  Occasionally  a  nest  is  found  suspended  over  the 
water  upon  which  it  (loats  as  the  tide  rises,  but  usually  tiic  chosen  situa- 
tion is  on  a  dry  knoll. 

Ei^,;:;s.  7-13 ;  ground  color  varies  from  brownish  buff  to  creamy,  spotted 
with  dark  brown  ;  size  variable,  average  about  1.85  X  1.25. 

This  species  of  Gallinule,  so  closely  related  to  that  of  Ltirope, 
is  common  in  Florida,  in  the  Antilles,  in  Jamaica,  fuiadaloupe, 
and  the  isle  of  Aves,  where  it  has  to  dispense  with  the  use 
of  fresh  water.  It  is  seen  frequenting  pools,  lagoons,  and 
streams,  and  extends  over  a  great  portion  of  the  continent  of 
South  America.  In  the  ^[iddle  and  Northern  States  of  the 
Union  it  appears  to  be  quite  accidental,  though  as  a  stragglt?r 
it  has  been  seen  and  shot  as  far  north  as  .\lbanv,  in  the  State 
of  New  York.  Its  range  to  the  north  is  therefore  much  more 
limited  than  its  I^uropean  analogue.  Its  voice  is  uncouth,  ])ut 
sonorous,  and  its  cry  or  call  resembles  'ka.  'ka,  'ka  ;  Mr. 
Audubon  met  with  this  species  in  great  numbers  in  Morida 
towards  the  source  of  the  St.  John's  in  the  month  of  March. 

This  species  is  unknown  in  Canada  or  the  northern  parts  of 
America. 


!    * 


I: 


PI 


!    * 


■:M 


I 


i!' 


yj. 


204 


WADlNCi   BIRDS. 


Eitlier  this  bird  has  increased  tlie  limit  of  its  range  since  Nuttall 
staliied  our  marshes,  or  the  modern  bird-hunter  is  provided  with  in- 
creased power  of  observation,  keener  vision,  and  more  accurate 
perception,  for  recent  reports  concerninj^  the  distril)ution  of  the 
(iaUinule  differ  considerably  from  Nuttall's  account. 

It  is  true  the  l'"lorida  (iallinule  is  at  home  in  the  tropical  por- 
tions of  the  continent,  but  it  occurs  regularly  and  in  numbers 
througliout  the  warm  temperate  area  north  to  New  England  and 
Canada,  and  west  to  the  Mississippi  valley.  It  is  quite  common 
on  Cape  Cod,  and  nests  have  been  found  near  Fresh  Pond,  Cam- 
bridge, and  in  Vermont. 

A  few  stragglers  only  have  visited  the  Maritime  Provinces;  but 
the  bird  i)reeds  in  numbers  in  Ontario,  and  is  not  uncommon  around 
Ottawaand  Montreal.  In  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  it  is  ([uite  common. 
But  it  is  a  sliy  and  retiring  bird,  leaving  its  haunts  amid  the  rank 
marsh-grass  and  the  rushes  only  when  impelled  by  the  migratory 
instinct,  and  tiien  the  bird  steals  off  under  cover  of  the  darkness. 

In  an  interesting  contribution  to  "The  Auk,"  Mr.  Brewster 
tells  us  that  the  movements  of  this  Gallinule  when  walking  or  swim- 
ming is  peculiarly  graceful,  but  when  on  the  wing  its  appearance  is 
ludicrously  awkward. 

The  notes  of  the  bird  arc  numerous  and  of  great  variety  of  tone 
and  compass,  varving  from  a  harsh  scream  to  a  low  hen-like  cluck. 
"  Speaking  generally,"  writes  Mr.  Brewster,  "  the  notes  were  all  loud, 
harsh,  and  discordant,  and  nearly  all  curiously  hen-like."  He  adds, 
"  I  certainly  know  of  no  other  bird  which  utters  so  many  different 
sounds."  Some  of  the  notes  are  like  a  drawling  kc'c-ar-r,  krcc-ar-r  ; 
or  more  rapidly  uttered  they  produce  a  sound  like  kr-r-r-r-r,  and 
are  varied  with  knic-kruc,  or  a  low  kloc-kloc  At  times  a  note  like 
tickcf-tickct-tickct-tickct  is  heard,  and  again  a  single  abrupt  explosive 
ktip  like  the  cry  of  a  startled  frog 


I 


RED    PHALAROPE. 

GRAY    PHALAKOFE.     SKA    C;()()S[;.     W  HALF:  BIRD. 

('kWMopiiii.rs  111  ii  \kiis. 

Char.  Fcin;ile  in  sunniicr  ;  above,  black,  the  fcatlicis  df  the  neck  and 
back  \vitli  a  nitons  or  buff  niar.^in  :  wings  gray,  tiijpcd  witii  wiiitc;  cheeks 
wiiite  ;  bill  orange  ;  under  parts  reddisli  chestnut  ;  legs  and  feet  yelhjw  ;  toes 
lobed  Male  :  duller,  white  on  cheek  less  defined,  and  head  streaked 
with  rufous  or  buff.  In  winter  the  rufous  tints  disapjiear  and  the  i)luniage 
of  the  npjJer  parts  becomes  gray  and  the  under  parts  white,  while  the  bill 
turns  black.     Length  about  8/4  inches. 

A'rst.  On  a  knoll  in  the  spongy  margin  of  a  i)ond  or  saline  pool, — a 
slight  dej^rcssion  in  the  peat  or  moss,  scantily  lined  with  grass,  moss,  or 
leaves. 

^w>'-  3~4  >  olive  buff  or  sea  green,  sjioltcd  with  dark  brown  and  pur- 
plish brown  ;  1.25  X  0.90. 

The  F"'lat-P>illc(l  or  Red  Phalaropc  inhabits  the  whole  Arctic 
C'ircle  during  summer,  wliere,  in  the  security  of  solitude,  it 
passes  the  important    |)eriod  of  reproduction.      It    is  ol)ser\e<l 


T 


\ 


V\ 


206 


WAinSC.   BIRDS. 


'I' 

m 


i  \ 


I  lii 


ipll'i 


!ir 


i    i  I 


in  the  north  and  east  of  Europe,  in  abundance  in  Siberia, 
upon  the  banks  of  lakes  and  rivers,  and  it  extends  its  vernal 
migrations  to  tlie  borders  of  the  Caspian.  These  birds  abound 
in  the  hyperboreal  regions  of  America,  breeding  on  ti.e  North 
(leorgian  Islands  and  on  the  remote  antl  wintry  coasts  of  Mel- 
ville Peninsula.  The  late  enterprising  and  scientific  northern 
navigators,  on  the  loth  of  June,  in  the  latitude  of  68  degrees, 
saw  a  company  of  these  daring  little  voyagers  out  at  sea,  four 
miles  from  land,  swimming  at  their  ease  amidst  mountains  of 
ice.  They  are  seen  also  by  mariners  between  Asia  and  Amer- 
ica. According  to  Mr.  Bullock,  Red  Phalaropes  are  found 
common  in  the  marshes  of  Sunda  and  Westra,  the  most  north- 
erly of  the  Orkney  Isles,  where  they  pass  the  breeding-season, 
and  are  there  so  tame,  and  so  little  alarmed  by  the  destructive 
arts  of  man,  as  to  suffer  the  report  of  a  gun  without  fear,  so 
that  Mr.  IJullock  killed  as  many  as  nine  of  them  without  mov- 
ing from  the  spot  where  he  made  the  first  discharge.  When 
swimming  in  pools,  this  bird  is  seen  continually  dipping  its 
bill  into  the  water,  as  if  feeding  on  some  minute  insects,  and 
while  thus  engaged  it  will  often  allow  of  a  very  near  approach. 
When  disturbed  these  birds  fly  out  a  short  distance  only,  like 
the  Dunlins.  Sometimes,  though  rarely,  they  are  seen  to 
approach  the  shore  or  the  land  in  quest  of  food  ;  but  their 
proper  element  is  the  water,  and  more  particularly  that  of  the 
sea  or  saline  pools. 

The  Flat-Billed  Phalarope  breeds  around  Hudson  Bay  in 
the  month  of  June,  soon  after  its  arrival  from  its  tropical 
winter  (piarters ;  for  this  purpose,  it  selects  some  dry  and 
grassy  spot,  wherein  it  lays  about  four  eggs  of  an  oil-green 
color,  crowded  with  irregular  spots  of  dark  umber-brown,  which 
become  confluent  towards  the  obtuse  em\.  The  young  take  to 
wing  in  July  or  early  in  August,  and  they  leave  the  inclement 
shores  of  their  nativity  in  the  month  of  September.  At  this 
period,  as  well  as  in  the  spring,  a  few  stragglers  visit  the  United 
States,  where  individuals  have  been  occasionally  shot  in  the 
vicinity  of  Philadelphia  and  Boston.  These  and  other  species 
are  also  seen  in  the  autumn  about  Vera  Cruz,  where  they  are 


NORTHERN    PIIALAROrE. 


207 


sold  with  other  game  in  the  market.  Their  visits  in  England 
and  Clermany  are  equally  rare  as  in  the  L'nited  States,  and 
individuals  have  been  known  sometimes  to  stray  into  Switzer- 
land, having  been  shot  on  the  Lake  of  Cleneva. 

These  interesting  birds  breed  in  the  high  Aretie  regions  and  win- 
ter south  to  the  shores  of  the  Middle  States.  They  are  usually 
found  on  the  sea  or  along  the  coast;  but  a  number  have  been  seen 
on  the  Great  Lakes,  and  occasional  examples  have  wandered  to  the 
Ohio  valley. 

Explorers  have  met  with  large  numbers  of  these  birds  on  the 
borders  of  the  Arctic  Ocean,  and  it  is  probable  that  few  of  tliem 
breed  south  of  latitude  65^.  They  are  exceedingly  abundant  in  the 
Bay  of  Fundy  during  the  migrations,  and  Mr.  Boardman  thinks  a 
few  pairs  have  nested  in  that  vicinity.  The  nests  were  not  dis- 
covered, but  young  birds  were  seen. 

Among  some  peculiarities  of  the  habits  of  this  bird  is  the  female's 
preference  for  conducting  the  courtship,  which  she  carries  on  in  a 
vigorous  fashion  of  her  own.  After  capturing  iier  lord, —  or.  to 
be  more  exact,  subduing  her  slave,  —  the  female  takes  her  ease, 
while  the  male  attends  to  the  domestic  affairs  and  hatches  the  eggs. 
The  female  is  much  the  handsomer  of  the  two,  and  is  also  larger. 


NORTHERN    PHALAROPE. 

RED-NECKED    PHALAROPE.     SEA   GOOSE. 

Phalaropus  LOR.vrus. 

Char.  Above,  dark  ash,  paler  on  the  head  and  rump,  the  back 
striped  with  rufous  or  buff;  wings  dusky  witli  a  white  bar,  tail  brownish 
gray;  chin  white;  breast  and  sides  of  neck  chestnut;  beneath,  white ; 
bill  black,  slender,  and  tapering;  legs  greenish.    Length  about  7}^  inches. 

In  winter  the  prevailing  color  is  grayish,  the  forehead  and  crown 
mostly  white,  and  a  line  of  dusky  through  the  eyes. 

The  male  is  smaller  than  the  female  and  of  duller  plumage,  the 
rufous  tint  less  conspicuous,  and  the  colors  less  defined. 

jVest  III  a  swam])  or  bf)g  on  the  margin  of  a  jjool,  —  a  slight  depression 
in  the  peat  scantily  lined,  and  concealed  amid  a  tuft  of  grass. 

^'-KK-''  3~4  i  P^^'e  olive  buff  or  sea-green,  thickly  covered  by  spots  of 
dark  brown  ;  average  size  about  1.20  X  0.80. 

The  geographical  range  of  the  Hyperborean  I'iialarope,  as 
its  name  implies,  is  nearly,  if  not  (piite,  similar  with  tliat  of  the 


ti^! 


1     ; 


.-  .  f 


208 


VVADLNG   BIRDS. 


preceding  species.  In  summer  it  tlwcUs  and  breeds  gener- 
ally within  the  Arctic  Circle  in  lioth  continents.  It  penetrates 
into  (Jreenland,  Iceland,  and  Spit/.bergen,  is  abundant  in  the 
north  of  Scotland,  in  the  Orkneys  and  Hebrides,  is  ecjually 
prevalent  in  Lapland,  on  the  northern  coasts  of  Siberia, 
and  between  Asia  and  America,  a  transient  visitor  on  the 
shores  of  the  Haltic,  and  seen  only  accidentally  in  (lermany 
and  Holland.  It  sometimes,  though  very  rarely,  penetrates  in- 
land as  far  as  the  lakes  of  Switzerland,  and  in  its  natal  regions 
visits  lakes  of  fresh  as  well  as  salt  water.  At  the  period  of  their 
migrations,  in  May  and  August,  these  birds  betake  themselves 
to  the  ojjcn  sea,  partic  ularly  in  autumn,  and  are  then  greg;irious, 
assembling  in  llocks  ;  at  other  times  they  are  seen  in  pairs, 
an<l,  like  the  preceding,  have  a  constant  habit  of  dipping  the 
bill  into  the  water,  as  if  in  the  a(  t  of  collecting  the  minute  mol- 
lusca  which  may  be  lloating  in  it.  'I'hey  are  also  often  seen  on 
the  wing,  and  are  said  by  W'illougliby  to  utter  a  shrill,  clamorous 
cry,  or  twitter,  resembling  that  of  the  (Ireater  Tern. 

In  Arctic  America,  where  this  Phalarope  resides  in  the  mild 
season,  it  is  seen  to  seek  out  shady  i)ools,  in  which  it  swims 
with  peculiar  ease  and  elegance,  its  attitudes  much  resembling 
those  of  the  Common  'leal. 

These  birds  arrive  to  breed  around  Hudson  Ray  about  the 
beginning  of  June,  and  old  and  young  are  seen  to  fretiuent  the 
sea-coast  previous  to  their  departure,  which  takes  place  often 
soon  after  the  middle  of  August,  on  the  i6th  or  17th  of 
which  they  are  occasionally  killed  in  different  jxirts  of  Massa- 
chusetts Hay  and  near  Newport  in  Rhode  Island.  They  like- 
wise probably  ])ay  a  transient  visit  to  the  coast  of  New  Jersey, 
as  they  do  also,  at  times,  U)  Long  Island,  and  finally  repair 
to  the  mild  shores  of  the  Mexican  (iulf,  being  seen  in  the 
markets  of  Mexico  and  Vera  Cruz.  Migrating  probably  by 
sea  and  outside  of  the  land,  they  but  rarely  visit  the  coast  in 
any  part  of  the  I'nited  Slates.  Straggling  families  of  tlie  old 
and  young  are  met  with  in  the  vicinity  of  ]>oston  nearly  every 
year  about  the  beginning  of  May  and  the  middle  of  August, 
commonly  in  salt-water  pools  near  the  sea,  and,  as  usual,  they 


NORTHERN   PIIALARUl'E. 


2oy 


are  seen  perpetually  dijiping  their  bills  into  the  water,  or  with 
a  reclined  neck  swimming  and  turning  about  in  their  favorite 
element,  with  all  the  ease  and  grace  of  a  diminutive  swan.  In 
Iceland  Hyperborean  Phalaropes  arrive  about  the  middle  of 
May  ;  ami  waiting  the  complete  thawing  u(  the  ice,  they  are 
seen,  for  a  time,  assembled  in  flocks  out  at  sea  several  miles 
from  the  shore.  This  gregarious  association  breaks  up  early  in 
June,  when  seceding  jxiirs  retire  to  breed  by  the  mountain 
ponds.  They  are  very  faitiiful  to  their  mates  and  jealous  of 
intrusion  from  strangers  of  the  same  species,  on  which  occa- 
sions the  males  fight  with  obstinacy,  running  to  and  fro  upon 
the  water  at  the  time  even  when  the  females  are  engaged  in 
incubation.  When  the  young  are  exposed  to  any  danger,  the 
parents  are  heard  to  express  their  alarm  by  a  rei)eated  '/'''/'> 
'/>n'/>.  At  the  commencement  of  .August,  as  in  the  glacial 
regions  of  America,  the  whole  retire  to  the  oi)en  sea  previous 
to  their  migration  to  the  South,  and  by  the  end  of  that  montli 
they  are  no  longer  to  be  found  in  that  island. 

The  food  of  this  species  is  said  to  be  chiefly  worms,  winged 
insects,  particularly  diptera,  and  such  other  kinds  as  frecpient 
the  surface  of  the  water.  In  specimens  which  1  have  exam 
ined,  the  stomachs  contained  some  small  gravel  and  the 
remains  of  acjuatic  coleopterous  insects,  as  the  different  kinds 
of  small  water-beetles.  These  individuals,  which  were  young 
birds  beginning  to  moult,  had  therefore  varied  their  fare  by  a 
visit  to  some  fresh-water  pool  or  lake,  and  like  their  kindred 
Sandpipers,  had  landed  on  the  shore  in  (|uest  of  gravel.  They 
were  likewise  (at  and  very  finely  flavored.  The  old  birds, 
hunted  as  food  by  the  (ireenlanders,  are  said,  however,  to  be 
oily  and  unpalatable,  which  may  arise  probably  from  the 
nature  of  the  fare  on  which  they  subsist  in  high  latitudes,  —  if 
the  birds  alluded  to  are  not,  in  fact,  the  small  Petrels  instead 
of  Phalaropes  ;  though  the  inhabitants  using  the  skins  medici- 
nally, to  wipe  their  rheumy  and  diseased  eyes,  seems  to  decide 
|)retty  nearly  in  favor  of  the  present  bird. 

In  the  spring  of  1832,  about  the  l)eginning  of  May.  so  dense 
a  flock  was  seen  on  the   margin    of   Chelsea   Beach,    iu  this 

vol .  11.  —  14 


« ^1 


.'i 


im 


? '] 


■  1 


210 


VVADlNLi   lilKUS. 


lii  J 


'yf 


vicinity,  tiiut  nine  ur  ten  individuals  were  killed  out  of  it  at  a 
single  shot ;  these  were  nearly  all  old  birds,  and  on  being 
eaten  proved  (juite  palatable.  Mr.  Audubon  uiforms  me  that 
in  the  month  of  May  last  (1833),  he  met  with  flocks  of  these 
I'halarupes  about  four  miles  out  at  sea  off  the  Magdalen 
hlands,  where  they  are  known  to  the  fishermen  by  the  name  ot 
*'  Sea  deese,"  appearing  more  or  less  every  year.  At  this  time 
they  were  in  very  dense  flocks  of  about  one  hundred  together, 
so  close  as  nearly  or  wholly  to  touch  each  uther.  ( )n  being 
approached  they  were  very  shy  and  wild,  and  as  they  rose  19 
fly,  in  the  manner  of  the  Sandjnpers,  uttered  a  faint,  clear  cry 
of  '/2c>ff  Uiocct.  Like  Tringas,  too,  they  alight  on  the  shore  or 
the  ground,  and  run  with  agility.  I'hey  also  at  times  settle  on 
the  driftweed  and  luici  in  order  to  glean  up  any  insects  which 
may  occur.     They  scpiat  on  the  ground  like  Snipes. 

It  is  remarkable  enough  that  all  these  flocks  consisted  of 
birtls  of  both  sexes  assembling  to  breed  and  in  imperfect 
plumage.  In  none  were  the  sides  and  front  of  the  neck 
wholly  red.  They  had  a  broad  patch  of  red  below  the  ears, 
not  extending  in  front,  and  the  blackish  gray  feathers  of  the 
back  and  scapulars  were  edged,  in  the  latter,  nearly  round 
with  pale  dull  rufous.  The  females  were  palcy  in  all  parts, 
the  scapulars  merely  edged  with  whitish  rufous.  The  hrii^likst 
of  these  birds  answers  to  Temminck's  description  of  the 
female  of  the  species,  while  Bonaparte  asserts  that  the  fe- 
males are  always  much  brighter  or  nuhicr  than  the  males  in 
their  most  complete  plumage.  We  have,  therefore,  the  follow- 
ing distinct  stages  of  appearance  in  this  species  :  The  yoinio  oj 
the  year;  the  yoitno  of  the  second  year,  differing  in  the 
appearance  of  the  sexes;  the  adults  of  both  sexes  (probably 
not  then  wholly  alike)  ;  and  finally  the  gray  iivery  of  winter, 
distril)\Uod  according  to  the  x'ariations  in  the  preceding  plumage. 
We  shall  then  have,  at  this  rate,  six  or  seven  different  states  of 
plumage  to  this  single  species  of  Phalarope. 

This  species  breeds  in  the  Far  North,  and  is  met  with  off  our 
coasts  as  the  flocks  journey  to  and  from  their  winter  quarters  in 
the  tropics. 


Wilson's  I'liALAKui't:. 


211 


I  have  seen  the  birds  only  as  they  have  loitered  awhile  in  the 
Hay  of  Kundy;  but  they  gave  me  no  j,M-oiinds  tor  thinking  them  the 
wild  and  shy  things  Audubon  tells  about.  I  thought  them  excep- 
tionally heedless  of  my  presence,  —  confiding,  in  tact,  —  for  I  fre- 
quently ran  nito  a  flock  that  barely  made  way  for  my  boat.  Mr. 
William  Jefferies  makes  a  .similar  report  of  the  flocks  he  saw  off 
Swampscott  in  August,  1890. 

'Ihe  Icmaks  of  this  species  are  rather  more  decorous  than  are 
some  of  their  cousin.s,  though  they  do  not  believe  in  living  alone  if 
a  bit  of  management  will  secure  a  partner,  but  they  are  help- 
mates, -  they  share  in  the  wearisome  task  of  incubation  and  ni 
caring  for  the  youngsters  :  and  their  consideration  and  their  con- 
stancy, which  is  unimpeachable,  is  rewarded  by  a  chivalrous 
devotion. 


WILSON'S   PHALAROPE. 

SK.A   (JOOSE. 
PHAL.AKOPUS   TRICOLOR. 

t'liAR,  Summer:  above,  dark  ashy  gray,  paler  on  the  crown  and 
rump;  throat,  checks,  and  line  over  the  eyes  white;  sides  of  the  neck 
rich  chestnut;  wings  brownish  gray;  <  iter  feathers  (primaries)  dusky, 
beneath,  white,  the  breast  tinged  with  i)ale  chestnut,  bill  long,  slender, 
and  acute,  and  of  black  color.     Length  9>^  inches. 

in  winter  the  plumage  is  ashy  gray  and  lacks  the  rufous  tints. 

Tlie  female  is  larger  and  more  highly  colored  and  much  more  beautiful 
than  the  male. 

Arj/.  In  a  marsh  or  wet  meadow  adjacent  to  a  lake  or  poiul,  —  a  slight 
depression  scattered  in  the  soil  amid  a  tuft  of  grass,  and  sparsely  lined 
with  grass. 

Av;'*  3-4  ■  grayish  huff  or  dark  buff,  thickly  si)otted  with  brown  of 
several  shades;   1.30  X  0.90. 

This  elegant  Phalarope,  first  noticed  by  Wilson  in  a  museiuii 
at  .Albany,  was  afterwards  dedicated  to  his  name  and  memory 
when  he  was  no  longer  conscious  of  the  honor.  Hurried  to  the 
tomb  from  amidst  his  unfinished  and  ill-requited  labors,  his 
favorite  Or])heus  and  Wood  Thrush  pour  out  their  melody  in 
vain.  The  Hlue  Piird,  which  hastens  to  inform  us  of  the  return 
of  spring  and  of  the  approach  of  flowers,  delights  no  longer 
the  favorite  of  their  song.      Like  his  own  beautiful  and  strange 


i 


i; 


JI2 


WAIJING    151  KDS. 


/ 


bird,  now  befort'  us,  his  transient  visit,  which  delighted  us,  has 
ended  ;  but  his  migration,  no  longer  to  be  pcj.itponed,  has 
exc:eeded  the  bounds  of  the  earth,  and  spring  ami  autumn, 
with  their  wandering  hosts  of  Hitting  bir<U,  may  still  return, 
while  he,  translated  to  the  Mlysian  groves,  will  only  be  reniem- 
bered  in  the  thrill  of  the  i)laintive  nightingale. 

Wilson's  I'halarope,  unlike  the  i)re(eding,  has  no  ])redilec 
tiun  for  the  ultimate  range  of  the  Arctii:  Circle,  confming  its 
resilience,  conseijuently,  to  the  shores  of  America  ;  it  is  im- 
known  in  summer  beyiind  the  55th  parallel,  passing  the  period 
of  reproduction  on  the  plains  of  the  Saskatchewan,  being  also 
a  stranger  to  the  coasts  of  Huds(jn  ISay.  Taking  the  interior 
of  the  continent  for  its  abode,  it  is  not  uniommnn  on  tin- 
borders  of  lakes  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  oi  Mi-xico. 

I'lom  the  structure  of  its  legs  and  feet  this  remarkable 
species,  so  distim  I  from  the  others,  appears  more  suited  for  a 
wading  or  walking  than  an  eminent  swmiming  bird.  In  tiie 
United  States  it  can  (Mily  be  considered  as  a  straggler,  of  which 
a  specimen  has  been  obtained  near  Philadelphia  in  May,  and 
another  in  the  State  of  New  York.  As  yet  we  have  never  met 
witii  it  in  this  vicinity. 

The  •■  Swimming  Sandpiper,"  as  this  bird  has  been  called.  —  a 
name  that  describes  it  jjrecisely,  —  is  restricted  cliiLtly  to  the  inte- 
rior, though  stragglers  have  been  taken  on  the  shores  of  .\ew  i'lng- 
land  and  tlie  Provinces.  It  is  now  known  to  breed  abundantly  in 
Illinois,  Wi.sconsin,  Iowa,  and  Dakota,  and  nortliwanl  to  the 
Saskatchewan  valley-  In  winter  the  Hocks  range  to  lira/il  and 
Patagonia. 

In  iiabits  the  bird  more  eloselv  resembles  the  Sandpipers  than 
does  its  congeners,  seldom  swimming  e.xcept  when  wounded,  and 
wading  knee-deep  to  glean  its  food.  The  female,  however,  with 
true  Phalaropian  seorn  for  the  proprieties,  manages  her  courtship. 
—  and  manai;i's  too  her  reluctant  lover.  -  and  alter  a  brief  -  very 
brief  —  honeymoon,  she  resigns  charge  of  domestic  arrangements 
to  her  henpecked  partner,  who  meekly  sUs  on  the  eggs  until  they 
are  hatched. 


.*^.?*V: 


I 
I    t 


■i  .XI  •><■'. 


■  a 


ry 

ts 


COMMON     I'KRN. 

WILSON'S  THKN.    SEA  SWALLOW.    SUMMER  GULL.    MALKLKKL 

GULL. 

SlKRW    lllKlNno. 

(ilAR,  Mantle  deep  pearl  j^iav;  cn)\vii  and  nape  black;  riini])  and 
tail  wliite  ;  beneath,  jialc  ,i;iay,  shading  to  wliito  on  tlic  tlirmt;  hill  and 
legs  orange  red.     Tail  deeply  forked.     Lcngtii  13  to  16  inches. 

In  winter  the  under  parts  are  pure  white,  and  the  crown  is  mottled 
with  white. 

The  youn'.i  birds  have  bars  of  brown  on  the  mantle,  anrl  the  crown  is 
of  a  brownish  tinge  ;  also,  the  bill  and  legs  bear  a  yellow  tinge  in  sum- 
mer, and  turn  to  nearly  black  in  winter. 

y\V,f/.  On  tlie  sand  or  an)id  shingle  or  short  herbage  near  water, — 
a  slight  dejiression,  sometimes  sparsely  lined  with  grass  or  weeds;  occa- 
sionally a  rather  bulky  nest  is  made  of  straw  or  sea-wed. 

Ei^^'-s.  2-5  (usually  3);  the  groinid  inlor  varies,  olive  and  buff  tints 
prevailing;  the  marking  also  varies,  hut  is  alwavs  i>rofusc  and  of  several 
shades  of  brown  ;  the  si/e  averages  about  [60  X  1.15 

The  Common  Tern  is  an  inhabitant  of  both  continents, 
being  met  with  on  the  coasts  of  most  parts  of  luirope  as  far 


111! 


J I  fi  i 


i  I 


214 


SWIMMERS. 


north  as  the  ever-inclement  shores  of  Greenland  and  Spitz- 
bergen  ;  it  is  also  found  on  the  Arctic  coasts  of  Siberia  and 
Kamtschatka.  In  the  winter  it  migrates  to  the  Mediterranean, 
Madeira,  and  the  Canary  Islands.  In  America  it  breeds  along 
all  the  coasts  of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States,  and  pene- 
trates north  into  tiie  fur  countries  up  to  the  57th  jiarallel  of 
latitude.  It  also  breeds  on  the  sand-bars  of  the  (Ireat  Western 
Lakes,  being  frequent  in  those  of  Erie.  Huron,  and  Superior. 
In  short,  no  bird  is  more  common  along  the  sea-coasts  and 
lakes  of  the  whole  northern  hemisphere,  within  the  limits  of 
cool  or  i;^oderate  temperature. 

These  Terns  arrive  on  tne  coast  of  New  Jersey  about  the 
middle  of  April,  and  soon  after  they  are  seen  on  the  shores 
of  New  ICngland,  where  they  are  known  by  the  name  of  the 
Mackerel  (lull,  ai)pearing,  with  the  api)roach  of  that  fish, 
towards  the  places  of  their  summer  residence.  In  New  York 
they  are  dignified,  for  the  same  reason,  with  the  appellation 
of  the  Sheep's-Head  (lull,  prognosticating  also  the  arrival  of 
that  dainty  fish  in  the  waters  of  the  State.  About  the  middle 
of  May,  still  gregarious  as  they  arrive,  they  commence  with 
the  cares  of  reproduction.  Artless  in  contrivance,  the  Terns 
remedy  the  defect  of  a  nest  by  selecting  for  their  eyries  insula- 
ted sand-bars,  wide  beaches,  but  most  commonly  desolate,  bare, 
and  small  rocky  islets,  difficult  of  access,  and  rarely  visited  by 
anything  but  themselves  and  birds  of  similar  habits.  A  small 
hollow  scratch  on  the  surface  of  the  shelving  rock,  with  the  aid 
of  a  little  sand  or  gravel  merely  sufficient  to  prevent  the  eggs 
from  rolling  off.  are  all  the  preparations  employed  by  these 
social  and  slovenlv  birds.  The  eggs  are  left  exposed  pur- 
posely to  the  wanning  influence  of  the  sun,  the  ])arent  sitting 
on  them  only  in  the  night  or  during  the  existence  of  wet  and 
stormy  reather.  They  are  about  i -V  inches  long  by  i  )^  in 
width,  of  a  dull  yellowish  or  pale  whitish  olive,  with  dark- 
brown  blotches  and  spots,  and  others  of  a  pale  hue  beneath 
the  surface,  the  whole  often  disposed  in  a  sort  of  irregular 
ring  towards  the  obtuse  entl.  Other  eggs,  again  (as  if  of  a  dif- 
ferent species  of  bird),  are  spotted  almost  ecpially  all  over. 


ti  ) 


COMMON   TERN. 


21 


P'rom  the  variety  in  the  appearance  of  the  eggs,  it  is  pretty 
obvious  that  the  females  indifferently  and  freciuenlly  lay  in 
each  other's  nests,  in  the  manner  o(  our  common  fowls  in  a 
state  of  domestication.  Though  to  all  appearance  thur,  aban 
doned  to  accident,  the  nests  are  constantly  under  the  surveil- 
lance of  the  Terns,  and  the  appearance  of  an  intruding  visitor 
on  the  S(jlitary  si)ot  chosen  for  their  breeding  retreat  fills  the 
whole  neighl)oring  trooj)  with  dismay  and  alarm  ;  and  in 
defence  of  their  young  they  are  very  bold,  clamorous,  and 
resentful,  sweeping  round  and  darting  down  so  close  to  the 
visitor  as  sometimes  to  touch  his  hat,  making  at  the  same 
time  a  hoarse  and  creaking  sound,  and  occasionally  uttering  a 
plaintive,  long-drawn  '/>/ir-7c>(iv ;  and  when  much  irritated  and 
distressed  by  the  fall  of  their  companions  or  their  brooil  by  tlie 
gun,  we  hear  a  jarring  /cVc,  /:7c,  /c7c,  as  well  as  a  piping  plaint  ; 
and  at  times  they  utter  a  bark  almost  like  so  m;iny  pupi)ies. 
On  a  rocky  islet  near  Nahant,  in  the  vicinity  of  T.oston.  knnwn 
by  tii<-'  name  of  the  I'^gg  Rock,  thirty  or  forty  p:iirs  annually 
breed,  and  among  these,  others  are  also  distinguished  by  the 
name  of  '/><v-/vc',v,  from  the  sound  of  their  usual  note. 

The  yt)ung  ;ire  often  hatched  at  intervals  of  a  day  or  two 
from  each  other,  and  are  c  .'fully  fed  and  watched  for  several 
weeks  before  they  are  in  a  i ondition  to  lly.  .\t  first  thev  are 
icd  on  small  fish  and  insects,  such  as  grasshoppers  and  beetles, 
the  hard  ami  indigestible  parts  of  which  food  app.'aring  to  be 
rejecteil  by  the  bill  in  the  manner  of  rapacious  birds.  The 
young  are  afterwards  fed  without  alighting,  as  they  skim  over 
the  spot  ;  and  then  they  merely  drop  the  fish  among  the 
broo<l,  when  the  strongest  and  most  active  are  conse(|uently 
the  best  served.  'I'he  yomig  at  length  launch  out  into  the 
marshes  for  themselves  in  i\\\v>{  of  insects;  while  thus  cn- 
gaged,  at  the  warning  voice  of  their  ]»arents.  or  the  ap])i()ach 
of  an  enemy,  they  instantly  scjuit  down,  and  ii'main  motionless 
until  the  danger  be  over.  .\s  soon  a>  the  young  an'  abK'  to 
lly,  they  are  led  by  the  old  to  the  sand  shoals  and  ri|'|)les 
where  fish  are  abundant,  and.  occasionally  feeding  them,  they 
learn  by  exam|)le  to  pro\ide  for  themselves. 


'ft 


i  ;,; 


^i,.: 


2l6 


SWIMMERS. 


H II 


While  flying,  the  Tern  exhibits  uncommon  watchfulness ; 
beating  the  air  with  a  steady  wing,  and  following  the  track  of 
the  vessel  with  an  easy  flight,  this  bird  may  be  observed,  with 
quick  eye  and  moving  head,  minutely  scanning  the  haunts  cUid 
motions  of  its  finny  prey.  At  the  approach  of  winter  it  retires 
south  of  the  limits  of  the  Union. 

In  America  this  Tern  is  cliieHy  confined  to  the  Eastern  Pro- 
vince, and  is  a  common  bird  througiiuul  its  range. 


J    ! 


FORSTER'S    ri'lRN. 

Sterna  I'uRSiiiki. 

('iiAK.  Above,  pearl  gray,  paler  on  the  wings  and  tail;  crown  and 
nape  blucU  ;  l)enealli,  white;  bill  orange,  the  terminal  third  blackish; 
legs  and  feet  orange;   claws  black.     Length  i2  tu  15  inches. 

In  winter  the  head  and  neck  are  white,  the  nape  is  tinged  with  gray, 
and  on  the  side  of  the  head  is  a  broad  black  band. 

A'es/.  On  a  marshy  margin  of  lake  or  stream,  or  on  a  grassy  island ; 
loosely  made  of  reeds  and  sedges,  and  lined  with  grass. 

Ei^'^'s.  2-3;  varying  from  pale  biilT  or  olive  to  olive  brown,  marked 
brown  and  pale  lilac;  average  size  about  1.80  X  1.25. 

Nuttall  wrote  in  a  note  to  the  Comnion  Tern  that  the  bird 
described  by  Richardson  as  Sterna  hinindo  apj^eared  to  be  a 
distinct  species,  distinguished  by  the  pearl-gray  tail  and  otiicr  char- 
acters, and  he  proposed  for  this  probable  new  species  the  name 
of  Sterna  forstcri,  in  honor  of  the  eminent  naturalist  and  voyaijer 
who  first  suggested  these  distinctions.  Having  been  recognized  by 
naturalists  as  a  valid  species,  the  name  thus  proposed  has  been 
adopted  for  it. 

In  appearance,  as  in  manners,  the  bird  is  very  similar  to  the 
Common  Tern,  tliou.^Ii  the  present  species  displays  a  decided  pre- 
ference for  a  grass-covered  nesting  site,  and  is  inclined  to  remain 
near  fresh  water. 

It  is  a  rare  l)ird  along  the  .Atlantic  coast,  excepting  at  Cobb's 
Island,  off  \'iriiinia.  but  is  al)un(lant  on  the  inland  waters  of  the 
west,  nortli  to  Manitoba.  A  inunher  nest  every  year  on  the  St. 
Clair  Flats.  Ontario:  but  liie  otdy  examples  that  have  been  taken 
in  Canada  to  the  eastward  of  that  point  were  obtained  at  Lake 
Mistassini.  Quebec,  and  on  Prince  L.dward's  Island. 

In  winter  the  Hocks  range  southward  as  far  as  Brazil. 


I    ' 


ROYAL  TERN. 


217 


s 

it. 


ROYAL  TERN. 

CAYENNE   TERN.     U.\NM:T    STRIKER. 
Sl'ERNA    MAXIMA. 

Char.  Mantle  pearl  gray;  tail  with  less  of  the  bluish  tint;  111111]) 
nearly  white;  crown  and  nape  black;  ininiarie-s  silvery  gray,  the  inner 
webs  with  a  dark  stripe  next  the  shall,  ami  inner  edge  white  ;  under  parl-> 
white  ;  bill  orange  ;  legs  and  feet  black.     Length  18  to  21  inches. 

After  the  mating  season,  —  the  spring  months,  —  the  crown  becomes 
mure  or  less  white,  and  in  winter  the  nape  also  has  white  feathers  mi.xed 
with  the  black. 

A'cs/.  Xo  attempt  is  made  to  construct  a  rece])tacle  for  the  eggs,  which 
are  laid  on  the  sand  of  a  sea-beach  or  on  the  edge  of  a  marshy  lagoon 

£^j;s.  1-4;  buffy  or  yellowish  drab,  marked  with  brown  or  pale  lilac; 
average  size  about  J.05  X  1.75. 

Nuttall  makes  bare  mention  of  this  handsome  l)ird,  —  la  t^raude 
}Iin>micllc-di:- liter  de  Cayenne  ot'  Buffon,  —  kiiowinjj;  nothing  ol  its 
habits  or  distribution,  and  in  error  gives  S.  caspia  as  a  synonym ; 
but  the  Caspian  Tern  is  a  larger  bird  and  quite  distinct.  Our  bird 
is  not  exchisively  American,  as  Nuttall  supposed,  for  Dalgleish 
found  it  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa.  In  the  United  States  it  is 
confined  chiefly  to  the  tropical  and  warm  temperate  regions,  sel- 
dom ranging  north  of  hititude  40^,  though  a  few  examples  have 
wandered  to  the  Great  Lakes  and  as  far  up  the  coast-line  as 
Ma.ssachusetts. 

The  centre  of  its  al)undance  is  along  the  Gulf  sliore,  the  birds 
being  especially  numerous  in  Florida  and  Texas,  though  they  are 
also  rather  common  at  Cobb's  Island.  \'irginia. 

The  name  of  ••  Gannet-striker '"  —  often  shortened  to  "  Gannet  " 
—  has  been  given  to  the  Royal  Tern  from  its  Gannet-like  per- 
formance of  descending  upon  its  prey  from  the  wing,  darting 
down  perpendicularly  and  swiftly,  plunging  under  the  surface  of 
the  water,  but  soon  reappearing,  and  mounting  into  the  air  again 
with  considerable  difficulty 


:<  ii 


1; 


1' 


liliii 


'11 


It':!. 


{•      : 


I'. 

GULT.-lilLLEn    TKRN. 

MARSH    TERN. 
Gelochei.idon  NILOJICA. 

Char.  Upper  part.s  pale  pearl  gray;  crown  and  nape  black;  under 
part.s  wliite ;  bill  short,  stout,  gull-sliapcd,  and  of  black  color  ;  legs  and 
feet  dn>ky.     Length  about  13  to  15  inches. 

Tn  winter  the  crown  and  nape  are  pale  gray,  and  a  bar  of  darker  gray 
runs  through  the  eyes. 

A'tsf.  A  slight  depression  in  the  sand  of  a  sea-beach  or  river-bank, 
sometimes  amid  the  low  grass  on  the  margin  of  a  marsh  ;  occasionally 
lined  with  grass  or  sea-weed. 

/t^^.r.  3-4  ;  light  buff  or  pale  olive,  marked  with  brown  and  lavender  ; 
average  size  about  1.80  X  1-30. 

This  bird,  though  rare  in  r'.ngland,  is  very  common  in  east- 
ern Europe,  particularly  in  Htmgary  and  on  the  confines  of 
Turkey.  In  the  new  continent  it  inhabits  the  whole  coast  of 
the  Atlantic  from  New  England  to  Brazil.  In  Europe  it 
affects  the  covert  of  rushy  marshes  in  the  vicinity  of  the  ( Ireat 
Lakes,  and  rarely  ever  visits  the  sea-coast  or  the  ocean.  It  has 
also  been  seen  inland,  in  Missouri,  by  Mr.  Say,  and  probably 
penetrates  still  farther  into  the  interior  to  the  coasts  of  the 
(Ireat  Lakes  of  the  North  .American  continent.  Wilson  first 
observed  these  binls  on  the  chores  of  Cape  AFay.  in  New 
Jersey,  where  parties  were  engaged   darting  down  like  Swal- 


GULL-BILLED   TERN. 


219 


lows  over  the  salt-marshes,  in  quest  of  some  aquatic  insects  or 
bI)ukTs  winch  occur  upon  the  surface  of  the  water.  Their 
food  while  here  appears  wholly  composed  of  insects;  in 
hurope  also  their  fare  is  similar,  and  they  feed  upon  lepidop- 
terous  insects  or  moths  as  well  as  other  kinds,  showing  indeed 
by  this  peculiarity  of  appetite  their  independence  on  the 
produce  of  the  ocean,  and  their  indifference  to  salt  water  as 
preferred  to  fresh. 

The  Marsh  Terns  keep  apart  by  themselves,  and  breed  in 
company  on  the  borders  of  the  salt-marshes  among  the  drift- 
grass,  preparing  no  artificial  nest,  laying  three  or  four  eggs  of 
a  greenish  olive  spotted  with  brown.  The  voice  of  this  species 
IS  sharper  and  stronger  than  that  of  the  Common  Tern. 

This  Te.n  is  common  along  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts  of  the 

o  e  in  tl  ;    f       fr"-  .''"'  ''''  ""''''  '''^'''  '"  Massachusetts,  and 
one  in  the  Isay  of  t  undy. 

frl'T!;''  "f,"  '''^''-'=•'"'"8  .T"n.  tW.s  bini  is  ,„rdy  found   uway 
ln,m  the  sca-slorc  ,n  Amonca.      Jt  ultors  a  vaiiutv  of  notes   the 


t   ! 


I ; 


!   ! 


I    i':' 


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1 

i 

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Mi 


P 

hi: 


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(■  I 


ARCTIC   '1'I<:RN. 

S'IKKXA    I'ARADIS.EA. 

Char.  Mantle  pearl  gray  ;  darker  on  the  wings  ;  rump  and  tail  white  ; 
tail  deeply  forked  ;  lower  parts  gray  tinged  with  pearl  gray  almost  as  dark 
as  the  mantle  ;  paler  on  the  throat ;  bill  and  feet  dcej)  carniiiu'  Length 
14  to  17  inches. 

in  winter  the  lower  parts  are  whiter,  and  tiu'  crown  has  more  white 
than  black  feathers  ;  also  the  bill  and  feet  are  dusky. 

AVsf.  Un  the  sand  of  a  sea-beach,  often  amid  shingle  or  drifted  sea- 
weed; sometimes  a  slight  hollow  sparsely  lined  with  grass  or  weed-stems. 

l\i,%''f-  2-.\ ;  not  easily  distinguished  from  those  of  S.  Iiiniiido,  but 
usually  of  a  darker  ground  color  and  more  heavily  marked;  ground 
color  varies  from  buff  to  huffish  brown,  and  olive  to  nlive  brown,  the 
markings  of  several  shades  of  brown  ;  average  size  about  1.55  X  115. 

The  name  of  this  bird  —  like  the  names  of  too  many  other 
species — is  misleadins; ;  for  while  tl;e  bird  ranges  through  the 
Arctic  region  and  nests  have  been  discovered  as  far  nortli  as  lati- 
tude 82°,  yet  numbers  breed  on  the  islands  of  the  IJay  of  Fiindy 
and  the  coasts  of  Maine  and  Massachusetts.  It  is  said  to  have 
been  abundant  in  the  last-nained  State  some  years  ago. 


i    f 


AKCIIC   TliRN. 


22\ 


'I'hc  peculiar  distrilnition  of  this  spcciL-s,  and  tlic  supposition  tliat 
tilt'  riocks  never  migrate  down  tlie  shores  of  the  Pacitic,  liavc  led 
some  natnrahsts  to  sui^^est  that  tiie  birds  were  oris^inally  contined 
to  the  Atlantic  Oce  in.  tliou^li  rangiuLjon  l)()ti)  its  eastern  and  west- 
ern shores.  The  i)reeding  area,  they  say,  was  gradually  extended 
east  and  west,  one  division  of  the  birds  going  ol'f  along  tlie  nortii- 
ern  shore  of  America,  the  other  across  the  end  of  Kurojje  and 
Asia,  atlvanced  flocks  of  each  division  linally  meeting  at  Bering 
.Sea.  iUit  at  the  approach  of  winter  these  flocks  sei)arated  at  that 
point,  and  ignoring  the  I'acific  route  to  a  milder  climate,  they  fol- 
lowed •'  hereditary  instincts  ''  and  returned  to  tlie  Atlantic,  each 
division  migrating  along  its  own  path  and  wintering  on  its  own 
chosen  shore,  —  the  flocks  of  one  wing  ranging  to  the  Middle 
States,  the  others  to  the  Canary  Islands. 

The  hypothesis  is  interesting  and  the  facts  are  in  the  main  cor- 
rect:  but  it  has  been  strongly  hinted  that  the  hypothesis  has  been 
cruelly  disturbed  by  the  birds  themselves,  —  they  have  turned  up  in 
California.  The  hypothesis  should  not,  however,  be  abandoned 
because  a  few  individuals  have  forsaken  the  traditions  of  their 
race,  —  that  is  a  common  weakness  of  those  who  "go  west." 
Enough  Arctic  Terns  still  follow  the  ways  of  their  fathers  when 
migrating,  to  ])rove  the  strength  of  this  inherited  tendency. 

In  habits  as  well  as  in  general  appearance  and  manners  this 
species  dit'fers  but  slightly  from  the  Common  Tern.  Our  bird  is 
perhaps  more  graceful  on  the  wing,  though  jjoth  tly  with  wonderful 
grace  and  ease,  and  tlie  Arctic  Tern  displays  more  boldness  in 
defence  of  its  young  or  of  a  wounded  companion.  It  seems  utterly 
fearless,  and  will  advance  so  close  as  to  strike  with  its  pinions  a 
hand  that  menaces  its  young  :  and  when  a  colony  is  invaded  l)v 
any  marauder,  the  Arctic  Tern  is  the  tirst  to  lead  an  attack  upon 
the  intruder,  and  tlie  attack  is  so  tierce  that  the  colony  is  usually 
saved. 

The  .Arctic  Terns  fre(|uent  rocky  islands  and  secluded  portions 
of  the  mainland,  and  in  these  localities  the  birds  gather  in  large 
communities.  They  may  be  seen  sitting  on  a  rock  or  stump,  watch- 
ing for  their  prey,  in  Kingfisher  fashion.  They  float  buoyantly  on 
the  water,  i)ut  rarelv  dive  beneath  the  surface. 


1 


I 

11 


m 


n 


I!  ! 


' .  ■! . 


I    l'«' 


Hi 


222  SWIMMERS. 


CABOT'S  TERN. 

sandwich  tekn. 

Sterna  sandvr;i;nsis  acuklavida. 

Char.  Upper  pails  p.ile  pearl  gray,  inucli  paler  on  riiinp  and  tail ; 
tail  deeply  forked;  crown  and  nape  blacU ;  under  jiarts  while  tinged  with 
pink  ,  bill  black  tipped  with  pale  buff;  legs  and  feet  black.  Length  14  to 
10  incheii. 

A'esf.  A  slight  hollow  sc  ratched  in  the  sand  (;f  a  sea-beach  or  on  a 
grassy  island  ;  sometimes  lined  with  grass  or  dry  sea-weed. 

y%i,''^i^s.  2-4  (usually  ^);  ground  color  varies  from  white  through  cream 
colcjr  to  brownish  buff,  sometimes  tinged  with  olive;  the  markings  are 
varied,  but  always  profuse,  and  of  several  shades  of  brown  and  pale  gray  ; 
si/.e  variable,  average  about  2.00  X  140. 

Few  bpccies  have  a  wider  geographic  range  than  the  Sand- 
wich Tern.  It  was  first  observed  in  Ihigland  by  Mr.  IJoys,  of 
Sandwich,  where  it  is  not  uncommon,  and  was  afterwards  pub- 
lished by  Latham.  It  is  readily  confounded  with  the  Common 
Tern  {S/rrna  hirundo),  but  is  superior  in  size,  besides  possessing 
other  differences  ;  it  is  rather  rare  on  other  parts  of  the  Eng 
lish  coast.  It  is  believed  to  breed  on  the  shores  of  Sandwich, 
and  retires  south  in  autumn,  where  it  is  probably  afterwards 
seen  migrating  to  the  coast  of  Africa  to  pass  the  winter,  and 
.the  young  birds  have  been  brought  from  the  distant  shores  of 
New  Zealand.  According  to  'I'emminck  it  is  very  abundant  in 
the  isles  of  North  Holland,  and  chielly  frecpients  the  sea-coast, 
though  sometimes  it  has  been  known  to  wander  into  the  inte- 
rior and  visit  fresh  waters.  In  the  Leverian  Museum  there 
existed,  some  years  ago,  a  specimen  of  the  young  bird  from 
South  America ;  but  it  was  left  for  our  indefatigable  friend 
Audubon  to  discover  this  interesting  cosmopolite  within  the 
bountlary  of  the  United  States.  In  1832  he  with  his  party 
obtained  a  considerable  number  of  specimens  in  summer 
plumage  during  the  month  of  May  in  East  Florida,  and  they 
were  particularly  abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  Indian  Key,  about 
thirty  miles  from  Cape  Sable.  In  this  place  in  the  usual  man- 
ner of  the  genus  they  breeil  together  in  large  communities. 


ROSli.Vli:    1KK\. 


2-M 


Cabot's  Tt.:ni  diffLis  but  sli^litly  in  coloration  of  plumage  from 
tlic  Sandwicli  'lerii  of  lOiinlaiul  ;  but  our  l)ircl  is  confmcfl  to  tlic 
tropical  and  warm  temperate  regions,  occurring  in  numl)ers  no 
tarllier  north  tlian  Florida,  though  occasionally  represented  by  a 
wanderer  along  the  coast  even  to  Massachusetts.  It  is  pre-emi- 
nently a  sea-l)ird,  and  is  rarely  found  inlanil. 

To  write  of  the  bird's  habits  would  necessitate  a  repetition  of 
what  has  been  said  of  others  of  this  group;  for  Cabot's  Tern  dis- 
plays little  originality  or  individuality  in  its  methods,  though  it  may 
be  credited  with  great  power  of  sustained  Hight,  and  more  tlian 
many  of  the  Terns  deserves  the  name  "  Sea  Swallow,"  so  generally 
applied  to  the  entire  group;  but  instead  of  pursuing  flies  it  preys 
solely  upon  tisli.  Its  strength  of  wing  and  skill  enable  it  to  outride 
the  severest  storms,  and  flocks  of  these  birds  may  be  seen  dipj)ing 
into  crested  waves  or  skimming  over  angry  breakers  to  seize  the 
prey  that  may  be  brought  to  the  surface  by  Uie  gale. 


1:1 


ROSEA  I'l-:  ti:rn. 

StKRN'A    DOUUAI.l.I. 

Char.  Upper  parts  delicate  peiul  gray,  paler  on  the  tail ,  crown  and 
na[)c  deep  black;  lower  parts  delicate  rose  pink,  which  fades  to  white 
after  death;  bill  black;  legs  and  feet  red;  win^s  short;  tail  lonj,'  and 
deeply  forked.     Length  about  i^'/z  inches. 

.Vtst.  A  slight  hollow  in  the  sand  of  a  sea-beach  or  barren  sea  island, 
often  amid  the  coarser  shingle  ,  sometimes  sparsely  lined  witii  beai  h-nrass 
or  sea-weed. 

/s';'.i,'-j.  2-4  (usually  3) ;  ground  color  varied  from  light  to  dark  huff  and 
pale  to  deep  olive  ;  profusely  and  irrcgularlv  marked  with  several  shades 
of  brown;  average  size  about  1.55  X  i.i5- 

Eggs  of  the  Common,  Arctic,  and  Roseate  Terns  arc  too  much  alike  to 
be  distinguished  'I'hosc  of  the  present  species  are  said  to  be  slightly 
lighter  in  color  as  a  rule. 

The  Roseate  Tern,  so  frequently  associated  with  and  con- 
founded in  the  character  of  the  Common  'lern,  is  another 
species  common  to  the  colder  and  temperate  parts  of  both 
continents,  being  frequent  upon  the  coasts  of  Sc(jtland  and 
England,  particularly  the  former.  It  is  also  founil  in 
Norway,  and  probably  also  upon  the  borders  of  the  iJaltic, 
visiting   the  northern  coasts  of  the  ocean  in  small   numbers, 


Hi 


I  Hi! 
>'  3  .1 


224 


SWIMMERS. 


K\' 


lYr 


h\ 


i' 

1 

i  ' 

■ 

i 

associated  with  flocks  of  tiic  (Ircut  Tern.  The  particular 
places  of  resort  for  the  present  species,  according  to  Dr. 
M'Doiigal,  are  two  small,  flat,  and  rocky  islands  in  the  Firth 
(jf  Clyde  called  Cumbrae  Islands,  chiefly  about  Milford  IJay. 
On  these  islands  the  Conimon  Tern  swarms  to  such  a  degree 
that  it  was  scarcely  possible  to  step  without  treading  upon  the 
young  birds  or  eggs.  The  new  species  here  described  was  shot 
by  accident,  without  its  being  distinguished  until  it  lay  dead 
upon  the  ground,  when  the  Doctor's  attention  was  attracted  by 
the  beautiful  pale  roseate  hue  of  the  breast.  There  did  not 
here  appear  to  be  more  than  about  one  in  two  hundred  cjf  the 
present  with  the  Common  Tern  ;  but  they  were  at  length  easily 
singled  out  by  the  comparative  shortness  of  their  wings,  white- 
ness of  their  |)lumage,  and  by  the  elegance  and  slowness  of 
their  aerial  motion,  often  sweeping  along  or  resting  in  the  air 
almost  immovable,  like  the  soaring  of  a  Hawk  ;  and  they 
were  also  distinguishable  by  the  comparative  inferiority  of 
their  size. 

In  the  United  States  these  birds  are  sparingly  seen  with  the 
Common  Tern,  as  I  have  obtained  an  individual  on  the  coast 
at  Chelsea  Beach  ;  and  they  may  breed  on  the  neighboring  isle 
of  Fgg  Rock  or  in  similar  places  in  the  temperate  parts  of  the 
L'nion. 

This  beautifully  tinted  and  graceful  l)ird  is  of  rather  southern 
habitat,  only  a  small  number  breeding  northward  of  southern  Mas- 
sacluisctts  on  tliis  side  of  the  Atlantic,  though  a  few  examples 
liave  wandered  along  the  coast  as  far  as  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  It  is 
almost  exclusively  a  bird  of  the  open  ocean,  seldom  even  frequent- 
ing tlu  salt-lagoons;  but  several  have  been  captured  on  the  Great 
Lakes.  Large  numbers  once  gathered  at  Muskegat  Island,  one  of 
the  Nantucket  group;  but  of  late  years  they  have  shared  the  fate  of 
all  their  kindred  and  been  slaughtered  l)y  milliners"  assistants  that 
their  wings  might  adorn  my  lady's  hat,  until  now  very  few  remain. 
Says  William  Brewster,  writing  of  Muskegat :  '•  Were  it  not  for 
man,  —  wlio,  alas  !  must  be  ranked  as  the  greatest  of  all  destroyers, 
—  the  Terns  would  here  find  an  asylum  sufficiently  secure  from  all 
foes."  He  graphically  tells  of  the  sliooting  of  hundreds  of  the  birds 
by  yachting  parties,  "either  in  wanton  sport  or  for  their  wings, 
which  are  presented  to  fair  companions :  "  and  adds  ;  "  Then  the 


LliASr   TKUN. 


225 


graceful  vessel  spreads  Inr  siunvy  sails  and  glides  hlitliely  away 
tlirougli  the  suminer  seas;  all  is  gayely  and  merrinieiit  on  hoard 
lUit  among  llie  barren  sand-liills,  last  lading  in  llie  dislanee.  many  a 
jjour  bird  is  seeking  its  mate,  many  a  downy  orpiian  is  crying  lor 
tile  loud  its  ilead  motiier  can  no  longer  supply,  many  a  pretty 
speckled  egg  lies  cold  anil  deserted.  IJuz/.ing  liies  settle  uixin  tiie 
bloody  bodies,  and  the  tender  young  pine  au.iy  and  die.  .\  grace- 
fid,  pearl-tinted  wing  surmounts  a  jaunty  hat  for  a  brief  season,  and 
then  is  cast  aside,  and  Muskegat  lies  forgotten,  with  the  bones  of 
the  mother  and  her  ol'fspring  bleaching  on  the  white  sand.  This 
is  no  fancy  sketch  ;  all  the  world  over  the  sad  destruction  goes 
on.  It  is  indeed  tlie  price  of  blood  tiiat  is  paid  for  nodding  plumes. 
Science  may  be,  nay,  certainly  is,  cruel  at  times  ;  but  not  one  tithe 
of  the  suffering  is  caused  by  her  disciples  that  the  votaries  of  the 
goddess  I''asliion  yearly  sanction." 


LEASr    TKRN. 

felLVKKV    TKRN.     LlTTLIi   STKIKIiK. 
Sri;i<.\A    .VN  11  LI, A  KIM. 

Char.  Upper  i)aits  pale  pearl  gray  of  a  silvery  tint ;  crown  and  nape 
black,  the  I'oiLliead  with  a  patch  uf  wiiite  ;  outer  wiiig-fcitlicrs  du^ky ; 
under  parts  white  ;  hill  yellow,  tipped  with  black  ;  legs  and  feet  orange. 
Length  about  9  inches. 

A'i'sf.     A  slight  hollow  in  the  sand  of  a  sea-beach. 

/\(\i;s.  2-4  (usu.illy  .1)  ;  p.ile  to  die])  buff,  sometimes  tinged  with  olive, 
profusely  blotched  with  b'.own  and  lavender;  average  size  about  1.25 
X  c  )5.  ' 

The  Silvery  Tern,  apparently  of  reinininck,  and  the  Lesser 
Tern  of  ^^'dson,  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  .\inerican  continent, 
and  was  first  detected  as  distinct  from  the  luiropean  species 
by  Prince  de  Neuwied,  in  lirazil.  In  the  L'nite<l  States  it 
arrives  from  its  hyhernal  retreat  later  than  tlie  Common  'i'ern, 
and  is  not  met  with  so  far  to  the  north,  being  unknown  in  the 
Canadian  fur  countries.  'I'hese  birds  are,  however,  conuiioii 
in  the  Middle  and  New  luigland  States,  l)eing  frecpuMUly  seen 
coasting  along  the  shores  or  over  pools  and  salt-marshes  in 
cpiest  of  the  insects  and  small  shrimps  which  constitute  their 
favorite  fare  ;  they  also  occasionally  dart  down  upon  small  fish 

vol..  II.  —  t; 


'  :, 


im 


it 


I 


I 


!-, 


226 


SWIMMERS. 


1  I' 


fi 
(  ■ 

'i 


and  fry,  hovering,  suspended  in  the  air,  lor  a  moment  over 
their  prey,  Uke  so  many  small  i  lawivs,  and  with  equal  prompt- 
ness dash  headlong  into  the  water  after  it,  seizing  it  with  the 
bill,  as  the  feet  are  incapable  of  prehension.  The  Silvery  Tern 
sometimes  makes  extensive  incursions  along  the  river  courses, 
and  has  been  shot  several  hundred  miles  from  the  sea,  its 
principal  place  of  residence. 

In  the  latter  end  of  May  or  beginning  of  June  the  female 
commences  laying.  The  eggs  are  merely  deposited  in  a  slight 
scratch  in  the  sand,  and  left  to  hatch  in  the  heat  of  the  sun  ; 
the  bird,  as  usual,  sitting  on  them  only  during  the  night  and 
in  wet  and  stormy  weather.  On  approaching  their  breeding- 
places  the  old  birds  assemble  in  crowds  around  the  intruder, 
and  after  a  good  deal  of  vociferation,  flying  round  in  wide  cir- 
cuits, they  often  approach  within  a  few  yards  of  one's  head, 
.sijueaking  almost  like  so  many  young  pigs,  and  appear  to  be 
very  irritable  and  resentful.  At  other  times,  when  not  excited 
or  alarmed,  they  are  tame  and  unsuspicious,  particularly  the 
young  birds,  often  heedlessly  passing  the  spectator  within  a 
few  yards  while  tracing  the  windings  of  the  shore  in  quest  of 
their  prey. 

This  is  a  bird  of  the  tropical  and  warm-temperate  regions,  breed- 
ing chieriy  from  the  Middle  States  southward,  and  wintering  in 
Central  America.  The  Nantucket  Islands  were  a  favorite  resort 
some  years  ago.  l:)ut  few  examples  are  found  there  now.  Occasion- 
ally stragglers  wander  along  the  coast  as  far  as  Labrador,  and  a 
few  have  been  seen  on  the  Great  Lakes. 


I  ' 


CASPIAN    TKRN. 

GANNKT      STKIKIiK. 
SlKKNA     ISCHK(iKAV.\. 

Char.  Mantle  pale  pearl  grav ;  tail  and  wings  silvery;  erown  and 
nape  black;  under  parts  white  ;  bill  red,  ti|)ped  with  black  ;  legs  and  feet 
black.  In  winter  the  black  cap  is  streaked  with  white.  In  iminatine 
birds  the  upper  parts  are  light  gray  mottled  with  brownish  gray  ;  bill 
yellowish  brown  ;  legs  and  feet  brown.  The  largest  of  the  Terns.  Length 
21  inches  or  more. 

A'cst.  A  slight  hollow  in  the  sand,  sometimes  lined  with  a  little  grass 
or  seaweed. 

/i>i,'.f.  2-3;  buff  of  various  shades,  sometimes  tinged  with  olive, 
marked  with  brown  and  lavender;  average si/c  ::.')0  X  1.75. 

This  Tern  received  it.s  name  from  I 'alias,  who  discovered  it  on  the 
shores  of  the  Caspian  Sea.  It  was  tirst  described  in  1770.  hut  was 
not  known  to  the  earlier  American  naturalists,  Baird's  work  of 
1858  beinjj;  the  first  in  which  its  name  appears. 

It  is  not  abundant  in  this  country,  or  indeed  in  any  country  ex- 
cepting in  a  few  localities,  though  cosmopolitan  in  its  distribution 


ilPl 


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f ' 


I,  - 

h  i 


:;  I. 


f^'\l 


228 


SWIMMERS. 


and  ranging  over  inland  waters  as  well  as  on  the  sea.  It  has  been 
found  breeding  on  Cobb's  Island,  \'irginia,  but  along  the  New  Kng- 
land  shores  it  is  seen  in  the  spring  and  autumn  chiefly,  indicating  a 
-Nortiiern  nesting  ground,  thougli  lew  .specimens  have  been  taken  in 
the  Arctic  regions.  It  is  said  that  nests  have  been  taken  on  the 
shores  ul  Texas,  which  would  give  the  bird  an  extensive  breeding 
area,  tiiough  the  nesting  sites  are  in  widely  separated  localities. 
It  might  almost  be  said  of  this  bird  that  it  ranges  over  the  entire 
globe,  and  breeds  throughout  its  range. 

Tile  cry  of  the  bird  is  loud  and  liarsh,  resembling  the  syllables 
k(iy-oh.ik\  or  key-rak ;  though  when  .i  nesting  site  is  menaced,  or  a 
pair  me^ts  in  contention  for  a  coveted  mouth tul,  the  cry  is  reduced 
to  a  sharp  kok,  or  kak,  or  koiuk. 

'i'he  Caspian  Tern  preys  chieHy  on  hsh  :  but  several  naturalists 
have  reported  fniding  the  remains  of  eggs  and  young  birds  in  its 
stomach. 

NoTi:.  —  A  lew  examples  of  Truukau's  Ti:r.n  {Sterna  trudcaiii). 
a  South  American  species,  have  wandered  north  as  far  as  Long 
island:  and  the  HuiDM'.i)  Ti:i<\  (J>'.  aiiatlutus)^  also  a  tropical 
bird,  lias  been  taken  off  the  coast  of  Florida. 


soo'iv  'n:RN. 

S'lF.RNA    iri.lCINOSA. 

Char.  Upper  pr-ts  sooty  black;  foixlicad,  outer  tail-feathers,  and 
nuclei-  parts  white;  Dill.  lej;s.  ami  Icct.  (lcc|  black.  Leiitith  about  t6 
inches. 

Xtst.  A  slight  hollow  in  the  sand  of  an  open  sca-bcach  ;  sometimes 
amid  the  tliickcl  of  herbage  boitlciini;  the  beach. 

■^'A'V'-  '-)  (nsnally  i) ;  white  to  pale  bnff,  sjiottcd  with  reddish  brown 
and  lilac  ;  average  size  coo  X  1. 40. 

These  Terns  generally  inhabit  the  tro]ii'al  seas,  being  widely 
dispersed  into  either  hemisphere.  On  the  Isle  of  .Ascension 
they  breed  in  swarms.  The  flocks  which  possess  the  various 
parts  of  the  island,  perpetually  breeding,  in  this  mild  latitude 
were  found  laying  at  dilTerent  times.  In  some  places  the 
yoimg  were  hatched  and  grown,  in  others  newly  laitl  eggs 
were  seen.  They  uttered  a  shar])  and  shrill  cry,  and  were  so 
fearless   of  the  men  who  visited    the   island  as   to  fly  almost 


SOOTV    lERN. 


22<;^ 


among  them.      The   species    is  migratury,   however,   even   iii 
these  mild  cUmates. 

Along  the  coasts  of  Oeorgia  and  Florida  Wilson  observed 
these  lerns  in  numerous  (locks  in  the  month  of  July.  Ihey 
were  very  noisy,  and  darted  down  headlong  after  small  fi^h. 
Jiirds  of  this  species  frecjuently  settle  on  the  rigging  of  shiji^  at 
sea,  and,  in  common  with  their  relatives,  are  called  Noddies  by 
the  sailors, 

Tiic  Souly  i'crn  occurs  regularly  north  to  the  Carolinas,  ar.tl  oc- 
casionally wanders  to  the  shores  of  Massachusetts.  It  is  almost 
exclusively  a  sea-bird,  feeding  chietly  upon  fish.wliich  it  catches  by 
swooping  to  the  surface,  not  by  dropping  into  the  water.  It  rarely 
floats  upon  the  water,  but  its  flight  is  powerful  and  rapid. 


1 


'  > 
i<  1 


,^:| 


'm 


iill 


t  I 


BT.ACK    TERN. 

Sll()RT-TAILr:D    JEKN. 
Hvi)R(HHKl,IlHiN     NKIKA     srklNA.MI.XSTS. 

Char.  Upper  parts,  (let])  slate  liiav  ;  licnd,  iu>ck,  and  under  parts 
Mack  :  lower  tail-covci  ts  wiiitc  ;  bill  black  ;  le^^s  and  feet  duskv  or  rerl- 
dish  brown.  In  winter  t!ic  l)lack  is  mostly  re))laced  bv  white,  the  crown 
grav.     Length  about  (j'j  inches. 

jVi's/.  A  slight  hollow  in  the  muddy  soil  of  a  reedy  marsh,  soinetinRS 
sjiarsely  lined  with  grass ;  often  jilaced  on  a  platform  of  floating  herbage, 
and  then  is  made  of  reeds  or  coarse  sedges  lirnilv  constructed. 

■^'cV''-  3;  ground  color  varies  from  gra\ish  bulf  to  yellowish  brown, 
sometimes  tinged  with  olive  ;  profusely  marked  with  several  shades  of 
brown  and  purplish  gray  ;  average  size  about  1. 40  X  100. 

'I'his  is  another  JKinatic  l)ir(l  common  to  the  northern  regions 
of  both  continents.  exteri(Ui\Li  its  residence  to  the  limits  of  the 
Arctic  Circle,  and  breeding,'  in  the  ftn-  cotmtries  of  the  interior 
upon  the  borders  of  lakes  and  in  swamjis.  It  is  also  very 
common  in  Holland  and  in  the  great  marshes  of  I  Itmgary,  and 
has  liccn  observed  round  the  salt  lakes  of  Siberia  ami  Tartary. 


BLACK   TERN. 


231 


In  Europe  it  is  met  with  as  far  as  Iceland.  In  all  situations  it 
appears  to  prefer  the  borders  of  rivers,  lakes,  or  marshes  to 
the  vicinity  of  the  sea,  except  when  engagetl  in  its  migrations. 

'i'his  Tern  is  a  lommon  summer  inhabitant  of  England,  ap- 
pearing, according  to  Montagu,  in  Romney  Marsh,  in  Kent, 
about  the  latter  end  of  April,  breeding  on  the  -edgy  borders 
of  pools,  and  though  very  near  to  the  sea,  it  is  rarely  seen 
on  the  shores  till  after  the  breeding-season,  and  is  then  un- 
common. These  birds  breed  likewise  in  the  fens  of  Lincoln- 
shire, making  a  nest  of  flags  or  broad  grass  upon  a  tuft  just 
elevated  above  the  surface  of  the  water. 

The  young  of  this  species  are  rather  common  on  the  coasts 
of  New  Jersey  during  autumn,  on  their  way  still  farther 
south  to  pass  the  winter.  Wilson  observed  a  flock  of  these 
driven  inland  as  far  as  the  meadows  of  the  Schuylkill,  by  a 
violent  storm  from  the  northeast.  Hundreds  of  them  were  to 
be  seen  at  the  same  time,  accompanied  by  flocks  of  the  \'el- 
low-Legs  and  a  few  Purres  (7>7>/i,'^(/  alpina).  Famished  by 
the  accident  which  had  impelled  them  from  their  usual  abodes, 
they  were  now  busy,  silent,  and  unsuspicious,  darting  down 
after  their  prey  of  beetles,  grasshoppers,  and  other  insects,  now 
afloat  by  the  inundation,  without  hesitating,  though  jicrpetually 
harassed  by  gunners,  who  had  assembled  to  view  the  extra- 
ordinary spectacle  of  these  rare  flocks  01  wandering  birds.  In 
ordinary,  as  in  Europe,  they  frequent  mill-ponds  and  fresh- 
water marshes,  in  jireference  to  the  bays  and  the  sea-coast. 

The  Black  Tern  is  a  cnniiTinn  bird  on  the  lakes  of  the  interior 
nortli  to  about  latitiuK'  45'.  and  is  seen  on  the  sea-coast  cliiefly 
during  the  fall  migration.  Occasional  examples  occur  along  the 
Massachusetts  sliore.  and  some  iiavu  been  taken  at  (".rand  Menan. 


I  'I 
vr 


^n 


I 


i 


NoTi'.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  WitiTi-.-wiNfiKD  IIi.ack  Ti.k\ 
(//.  leucoptera')  have  wandered  to  America.  One  was  taken  liy 
Professor  Kunilien  in  Wisconsin,  and  six  were  seen  by  Professor 
.Macoun   on  a  lake  near  Winnine<r. 


*.  fil 


ll  if, 

■Mi 


^^r^ 


>>     : 


232 


SWIM  Mi: RS. 


NODDY. 

Angus  stomdus. 

Char.  Plumage  deep  sooty  brown,  darker  on  wings  and  tail,  jjaler  on 
neck  ;  crown  lioary  gray,  siiading  to  wliitc  on  tlic  forehead.  Lcngtli 
about  15  inciics. 

AV.i/.  Usually  in  a  tree  or  low  bush,  sometimes  on  a  clilt  of  a  rocky 
island,  made  of  twigs  lined  with  leaves  and  grass. 

A";',;''.f'  I  '■  I'^de  buff,  sometimes  tinged  with  slate,  spotted  with  inown 
and  l.i vender;  2.00  X  1.35. 

'I'hcsc  conimon  and  well-known  l)ir(ls  inhnliit  all  i)arl->  of  tin- 


<1 


alh 


f 


iropii  a!  seas,  and  migrate  occasionally  as  lar  as  the  coasts  o 
the  L  niteil  States,  at  which  times  they  are  generally  seen  in 
llocks.  and  are  by  no  means  rare.  Familiar  to  mariners  who 
navigate  in  the  ecjiiatorial  regions,  the  Noddy,  like  the  vcjyager, 
fre<nients  the  oi)en  seas  to  the  distance  of  some  hundreds  of 
leagues  (nnn  the  land,  and  with  many  other  birds  of  similar 
appetites  and  propensities,  it  is  seen  in  great  flights  assidu- 
ously following  the  shoals  of  its  finny  prey.  It  pursues  them 
by  tlying  near  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  may  now  be 
seen  continually  dro]>i)ing  on  the  small  fish,  which  approach 
the  surface  to  shim  the  ]iersecution  of  the  greater  kinds  by 
whicli  they  are  also  harassed.  A  rippling  and  silvery  white- 
ness in  the  water  marks  the  course  of  the  timid  and  tumultuous 
shoals,  and  the  whole  air  resoimds  with  the  clangor  of  these 
gluttonous  and  greedy  birds,  who,  exulting  or  contending  for 
success,  fill  the  air  with  their  varied  but  discordant  cries. 
Where  the  strongest  ri|)pling  appears,  there  the  thickest  swarms 
of  Noddies  and  sea-fowl  are  uniformly  assembled.  'I'hey  fre- 
(luenlly  fly  on  board  of  ships  at  sea,  and  are  so  stupid  or  indo- 
lent t)n  such  occasions  as  to  suffer  themselves  to  be  taken  by 
the  hand  from  the  yards  on  which  they  settle  ;  they  sometimes, 
however,  when  seized,  bite  and  scratch  with  great  resolutitMi, 
leading  one  to  imagine  that  they  are  disabled  often  from 
flight   by  excessive  fatigue  or  hunger. 

The  Noddies  breeil  in  great  numbers  in  the  Bahama  Islands, 
laying  their  eggs  on  the  bare  shelvings  of  the  rocks  ;  they  also 


-NODDV. 


^35 


breed  on  the  Roca  Islands  and  various  parts  of  the  coast  of 
razi   and  Cayenne.     According  to  the  accouiUs  of  voyagers 
ey  ay  vast  numbers  of  eggs  on  certain  rocky  isles  contiguou^ 
o   bt.  Helena,  and  ti.e  eggs   are  there  accounted  a  dJicate 
ood.     bo,ne  have  unagined  that  the  appearance  of  the  Xo.Idy 
at  sea  nidicates  the  proximity  of  land  ,:  but,  in  the  manner  ,>f  the 
(  ommon  lern,  these  birds  adventure  out  to  sea,  and  like  the 
nKu-mer  himself,  the  shelter  of  whose  friendly  vessel  they  seek 
they  often  voyage  at  random  for  se^■eral  days  at  a  time   com- 
m.ttmg  themselves  to  the  mercy  of  the  boun.lless  ocean  •  md 
havmg  at  c-ertain  seasons  no  predilection  for  a  peculiar  climate 
the  rovn.g  flocks  or  stragglers  find  a  hon.e  on  every  coast. 

er^siaterhuT"'"'  """''  "''  '^''  '^''^^'^"'-~  '''''''  ^^y^'^^^  t''^'  South- 
em  .States,  but  ,s  common  around  Florida  and  uu  tlic  Gull  shores 


;  f 


i. 


\  j'. 


r  ■    I 


i.1 


SAIilNE'S   GULL. 

FORKED-TAIL   GULL. 

XkMA    SAIilXII. 

Char.  Mantle  deep  liluisli  qiay,  —  French  gray  ;  head  and  neck  dark 
shity  gray,  bordered  liy  a  collar  of  black ;  f|iiil!s  black  tipped  with  white  ; 
tail  and  under  parts  white;  bill  l)lack  tipped  with  red,  which  in  dried 
skins  becomes  yellowish.  In  winter  the  head  is  white,  and  the  nape  slaty 
gray.  The  young  birds  arc  similar  to  the  winter  plumage  of  the  adults, 
but  the  mantle  is  more  or  less  varied  with  brown  and  bufT,  and  the  tail 
has  a  terminal  band  of  black.     Length  about  14  inches. 

A'rs/.  On  an  island,  usually  in  a  lake,  sometimes  near  the  coast,  —  gen- 
erally a  depression  in  the  mossy  turf,  sparsely  lined  with  grass,  occasion- 
ally on  the  bare  ground  or  in  sand. 

yT^'V-.v.  2-3  (usuallv  2)  ;  ground  color  of  various  shades  of  brown  tinted 
with  olive,  marked  with  fine  spots  of  dark  brown  and  gray;  avcr.agc  size 
about  1.75  X  1.25. 

This  interesting  species  was  discovered  by  Captain  Saliine 
at  its  breeding-station  on  some  low  rocky  islands  lying  off  the 
west  coast  of  (Greenland,  associated  in  considerable  numbers 
with  the  Arctic  Tern,  the  nests  of  the  two  birds  intermingled. 
It  is  analogous  to  the  Tern,  not  only  in  its  forked  tail  and  in 
its  choice  of  a  breeding-jilace,  but  also  in  the  boldness  which  it 
displays  in  the  protection  of  its  young.     The  parent  birds  flew 


SAHINIi's   GULL. 


235 


obscncl   to  collcc,   Uuir  fuo,l  from  ,      ',,  ^      i''"^  ""'■ 

l.a-cding  area  lic..°in  ,!,„  A  N  ,  , t.  ,;r>  '™"  "V"-'  »«'■  »» 
Ocean;  but  i,Mvi„,,r  i,  .an^r  o  ,c  v  '  r"","  ',''  "'" '^'■"'•■ 
to  tlie  (ireat   Lakes     Ii   k  n,,"^  ,  ^     '■•"«''"'<'  «'•'--'»  '•"' 

probably  more  ".ample '  1    .-1.  ","""""•    '""""•   »"  '"'■  -""•  • 

iia>  o,  ,.u„d,  .iKJef.e!Ze':L:n':''l;:;:''^-  ™""-  °'  "- 

our  fauna  l,a»  l«n     i,    ne 'l    "  ^    «!"«  Hpeaes  ,o  be  inelu.le.l  in 
..a.s  been  omi.,c,,  TromT       6    U '"  cile    'u'r-.'  ";;'  |'"^  ■;•""'■ 


'il 


I 


;>  H 


Jl'Ni; 


'i' 


(  . 

) 


;  ii 


!.'|-    t 


LAUCHIXC.   c.ui.r,. 

BLACK-HEADED   GULL. 
I.AKIS    ArKI(;l[,l,A. 

Char.  Mantle  deep  slaty  j^ray;  liuad  and  neck  dark  brownish  slate; 
outer  wing-feathers  black  :  tail  and  under  parts  white,  slightly  tinged  with 
pale  pink  ;  bill  and  feet  dull  red. 

In  winter  the  under  parts  lose  the  pink  tint,  and  the  head  is  white. 
Length  about  i6  inches. 

A'l-st.  <  Ml  a  grassy  island,  hid  amid  a  tussock  of  sedges  or  in  the  sand 
of  a  sea-beach;  a  slight  depres>iiin  in  the  turf  lined  with  fine  grass. 

''Vw*-  .1"?!  dull  white  or  pale  slate  tinged  with  green  or  blue,  marked 
profusely  with  brown  and  lilac;  average  si/e  about  2.20  X   1  55. 

'I'his  si)ccics,  very  comiiKJii  in  most  parts  of  America,  is  also 
fre(itient  in  I'".iiro])e,  particularly  in  the  warmer  [)arts,  as  the 
coasts  of  Sicily.  Spain,  and  the  islands  of  the  Mediterranean  ; 
elsewhere  in  that  continent  it  is  rare  and  accidental.  In 
America  it  is  found  as  f;ir  south  as  Cayenne  and  .Mexico,  but 
does  not  appear  to  inhabit  far  north  of  the  limits  of  the  Union. 
( )n  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  it  makes  its  aj:)pearance  in  the 
latter  part  of  April,  and   is  soon  discovered  by  its  familiar- 


LAUCilllNG   (JLLL. 


^n 


ity  and  noise  ;  companies  are  even  seen  at  times  around  the 
farm-house,  or  coursing  along  the  river  shores,  attending  upon 
the  tracii  of  the  fishermen  for  garbage,  gleaning  among  the 
refuse  of  the  tiile  ;  or,  scattering  over  the  marshes  and  ])lough- 
ing  fields,  they  collect,  at  this  season,  an  abundant  rei)ast  of 
worms,  insects,  and  their  larva,*.  (Ireat  numbers  are  also  seen 
collected  together  to  feed  upon  the  prolific  spawn  of  the  king- 
crab.  While  thus  engaged,  if  approached  they  rise,  as  it  were, 
in  clouils,  at  the  same  time  scpialling  so  loudly  that  the  din 
may  be  heard  for  two  or  three  miles. 

'I'he  I ilack- Headed  (Julls  breed  in  the  marshes  of  New 
Jersey,  but  are  not  seen  during  the  breeding-period  in  New 
llngland,  and  are  indeed  at  all  times  rare  in  this  (juarter.  I>e- 
ing  apparently  a  somewhat  tender  species,  they  retire  to  the 
South  early  in  autumn,  and  on  commencing  their  migrations, 
if  the  weather  be  calm,  they  are  seen  to  rise  up  in  the  air  s])ir- 
ally,  all  loutlly  chattering  as  it  were  in  concert,  like  a  llock  of 
cackling  hens,  the  note  changing  at  short  intervals  into  a 
7/(7u',  'ha  'ha  'ha  'hai^',  the  final  syllable  lengthened  out  into 
an  excessive  and  broad  laugh.  After  ascending  to  a  consider- 
able height,  they  all  move  off,  by  common  consent,  in  the  line 
of  their  intended  destination. 

On  the  4th  of  March  (1830),  while  at  Heaufort,  North 
Carolina,  in  company  with  several  other  species  I  saw  a  small 
flock  of  these  Risible  Clulls,  which  every  now  and  then,  while 
amusing  themselves  by  fishing  and  plunging  after  their  prey 
of  fry,  burst  out  very  oddly  into  an  oh  oh  at^h  ai^h,  or  a  coarse, 
laughing  scream. 

The  Liuighing  Gulls  used  to  breed  in  numbers  on  the  Nantucket 
islands,  but  they  have  been  nearly  exterminated,  and  during  recent 
years  only  a  few  examples  have  been  seen  on  the  New  I'ngland 
shores.  To  tlie  soutlnvard  tliese  Ijirds  are  still  common,  l)eimi 
jiarticularly  abundant  on  the  I'Morida  coast  and  among  the  West 
India  islands. 


m 


i 


^M  '■% 


h 


.'i' 


\  :> 


238  SWIMMERS. 


FRANKLIN'S  (iULL. 

I-AKUS    IKANKI.INII. 

Char.  Mantle  deep  Iilui.sli  gray  ;  head  dark  sooty  slate  color,  a  i)alcli 
of  wliite  over  the  eyes;  miter  wiiij^-leathers  barred  with  black  and  tipped 
with  white;  tail  pale  pearl  gray;  under  parts  white,  tinted  with  rose  i)ink  ; 
bill  bright  reel,  barred  near  the  end  with  black;  legs  dull  red.  In  winter 
the  head  is  white.     Length  about  14  inches. 

A'tsf.  in  a  reedy  marsh  or  woody  swamp;  made  of  flags  or  other 
coarse  herbage. 

^^i'^'^■>■■  3;  P-'l*-'  to  dark  buff  or  drab,  sometimes  tinged  with  olive,  pro- 
fusely marked  with  several  shades  of  brown  ;  2.10  X  1.40. 

Franklin's  (lull  is  chieHy  confined  to  the  \vt'st<'rn  division  of 
this  continent,  nesting  in  suitable  localities  amid  the  plains  from 
about  latitude  43'^  to  the  Saskatchewan  valley,  where  it  is  abun- 
dant. Small  numbers  have  been  found  nesting  in  Iowa  and  Wis- 
consin. In  autumn  the  Hocks  migrate  southward  and  range  through 
Central  America,  some  going  as  far  as  Peru. 

These  birds  build  in  communities  and  are  very  noi.sy.  While  on 
the  wing  they  utter  constantly  a  shrill  and  plaintive  cry. 


BONAl'ARTK'S   CULL. 

LaKI'S    I'HIl-ADKLPHIA. 

Char.  Mantle  pearl  gray;  head  and  neck  or  hood  grayish  black  or 
deep  slate  color  ;  white  patches  over  the  eyes  ;  outer  wing-feathers  with 
a  suliterminal  bar  of  black  tipped  with  white,  excepting  outer  web  of  first 
l)rimary,  which  is  entirely  black;  tail  white;  under  parts  white,  tinged 
with  rose  pink;  bill  black  and  slender;  legs  and  feet  bright  red.  In  win- 
ter the  head  is  white,  with  a  dusky  spot  on  the  cheek.s  and  a  tinge  of  grav 
on  the  nai)e.  In  young  birds  the  head  and  back  are  more  or  less  tinged 
with  brown,  and  the  tail  has  a  terminal  band  of  black.  Length  about  14 
inches. 

jVrsf.  Usually  in  a  tree,  sometimes  on  a  high  branch,  often  in  a  low 
bush  amid  a  woody  swamp ;  made  of  twigs  and  lined  with  grass  or  moss. 

^'■AX-''-  3~4  (usually  3)  ;  pale  to  dark  brown,  often  tinged  with  olive, 
marked  with  brown  and  lavender;  2  00  X  1.40. 

This  elegant  (Jul!  is  common  in  all  parts  of  the  fur  countries, 
where  it  associates  with  the  Terns,  and  is  distinguished  by  its 


RCJSS  S   GULL. 


239 


peculiar  shrill  and  plaintive  cry.  Small  flocks,  early  in  au- 
tumn, are  occasionally  seen  on  the  coast  of  .Massachusetts,  ami 
sometimes  high  in  the  air  their  almost  melodious  whistling  is 
heard  as  they  proceed  on  their  way  to  the  South,  or  inlantl  to 
feed.  Their  prey  appears  to  be  chiefly  insects  ;  and  two  which 
I  had  an  opi)orlunity  of  examining  were  gorged  with  ants  and 
their  eggs,  and  some  larva;  of  moths  in  their  pupa  state.  These 
birds  both  old  and  young  are  good  food. 

Bonaparte's  (lull  ranges  tliroiiglioul  Xorth  America,  Ijreediiig 
in  tlie  fur  countries,  and  migrating  by  inland  and  coast  routes  to 
and  from  its  winter  resorts  in  the  soutliern  portions  of  the  United 
States. 

Small  numbers  of  these  Gulls  are  seen  on  tiie  New  Kngland 
coast  during  the  summer,  l)ut  no  evidence  has  l)een  produced  of 
tiieir  having  nested  in  this  vicinity,  and  tiiey  pi'ohably  build  no 
farther  south  than  about  latitude  43°.  It  has  been  suggested  tiiat 
the  e.vamples  that  loiter  through  the  summer  without  reacliing  the 
breeding-grounds  are  immature  or  unfertile  birds.  In  the  autumn 
-  from  early  August  on  —  large  flocks  of  these  birds  swarm  along 
the  coast. 


i; 


ROSS'S   (lUId.. 

WEDGE-T.MI.EI)   (;ULI.. 
RnoDOSrEIHIA    KOSF.A. 

Char.  Mantle  pearl  gray;  head  and  tail  white;  a  narrow  collar  of 
black  around  the  neck,  and  a  few  black  feathers  near  the  eyes;  outer 
feather  of  the  wings  black;  tail  long,  pointed,  and  wedge-shaped;  bill 
slender  and  black  ;  legs  and  feet  dull  red,  —  "terra  cotta,"  —  claws  black. 
Length  13^  inches. 

In  winter  the  black  collar  is  absent,  and  the  crown  is  tinged  with  gray. 
Young  birds  are  distinguished  by  a  band  of  brownish  black  on  wings  and 
tail. 

NesI  and  Ki:;i^s.     Unknown. 

Although  discovered  so  long  ago  as  1S23.  very  little  is  yet  known 
of  the  habits  or  distribution  of  this  (iull.  So  late  as  iSSi.oniy 
twenty-three  specimens  were  to  be  found  in  tlie  museums  of  the 
world,  and  the  species  was  supposed  to  be  exceedingly  rare,  until 
the  American  expedition  to   Point  Barron  saw  large  loose  flocks 


1 


240 


SWIMMl'KS. 


M  I 


during  Septcnibur  iiiul  October  coming  in  from  tlic  sv:\  to  tlie  west- 
ward, and  rajjidly  passing  along  tiic  coast  towards  tlic  nortlicast. 

'I'licy  were  migrating  evidently  ;  hut  wliillier  ?  and  where  had  they 
come  from,  —  where  had  they  been  nesting?  These  (jiu'stions  are 
still  unanswered.  It  has  been  suggested  that  the  birds  ma_\  turn 
southward,  and  winter  in  the  interior  of  this  continent.  —  possibis' 
in  the  Harreii  (iround  region.  IJut  a  more  probable  sujjposition  is 
that  offered.  I  think  by  Lieutenant  Ray,  that  the  flocks  move  east- 
ward until  they  meet  the  floating  ice.  and  then  wheel  seaward  and 
remain  amid  the  "  fields  "  duiing  the  winter  months,  drifting  soutli- 
w.ird,  —  loo  far  from  land  to  be  observed,  and  feeding  at  the  edge 
of  the  "pack." 

Hut  these  are  speculations  only.  It  has  been  determined,  how- 
ever, th.it  the  species  is  abundant  in  tlie  vicinity  of  llering  Sea 
and  breeds  somewhere  along  the  Siberian  shore  of  the  Arctic 
Ocean,  that  it  occurs  as  an  occasional  visitor  only  in  other  portions 
of  the  Arctic  region,  and  as  an  accidental  straggler  elsewhere. 

Upon  what  land  the  nest  is  placeil  is  still  unknown.  It  must  lie 
somewhere  in  the  frozen  region  to  the  westward  or  northward  of 
VVrangel  Island,  and  may  be  amid  the  Liakoff  isles,  or  on  some 
undiscovered  island  still  closer  to  the  I'ole. 


■;.  •    i 


I  ;  ' 


.VPCirr 


'-;^??yiC^^::!a  ^ 


Ki'i  riWAKi-:. 

RiSSA     IklllACrVI.A. 

Char.  Mantle  deep  jicarl  gray;  head,  neck,  tail,  and  under  parts 
white  ;  tiids  of  outer  win^-fcathcrs  —  the  primaries  —  l)lack,  tijjprd  with 
white;  IjIII  i^rccnish  yellow  ;  legs  and  feet  black.     Length  15'^  inclus. 

In  winter  the  back  of  the  neck  is  more  or  less  suffused  with  ^rav. 
\'oung  birds  have  a  black  bill  ;  patch  on  back  of  neck,  shouldci>.  and 
terminal  band  on  the  tail  brownish  black. 

A'l'sf.  In  a  colony  on  the  ledges  of  a  cliflf  or  on  the  mossy  turf  of  an 
island,  occasionally  amid  the  sand  or  shingle  of  a  sea-beach  ;  usually 
pi  >rl|.  n*"      i-wced  or  other  coarse  herbage  from  "the  drift,"  lined  with 

1  iiio.sH  ;  sometimes  a  few  feathers  arc  added.     Each  year  the  bulk 

•d  by  the  addition  of  material.     N'ests  have  been  found  which 

ore         i^  dcjircssions  in  the  sand,  sparsely  lined  with  grass. 

£"v,  --4;  buff  of  various  shades  tinted  with  olive,  blotched,  and 
streaked  with  brown  and  lavender  ;  avir.ige  size  J.20  X  i.f)0. 

'l"he  Kittiwake,  or  Tarrock,  is  found  in  the  north  of  l)olh 
continents.  It  'habits  Newfoundlaiiil,  l,a])ra(lor.  the  islands 
in   the   diilf  of       l    St.   Lawrence,   the  coasts  of  the   I'acific, 

vol..    II.  — 


'■'■■■i 


It'. 

r- 
§ 


>  ( 


n 


I  ■  , 

u 


I  i 


I:' 


'■','1 


I 


242 


SWIMMERS. 


Spitzbcrgen,  Greenland,  Iceland,  and  the  north  of  Europe,  as 
well  as  the  Arctic  coast  of  Asia  and  Kamtschatka.  It  likewise 
breeds  in  some  of  the  Scottish  islands,  and  is  generally  found 
about  saline  lakes  and  the  interior  seas  and  gulfs,  but  is  less 
frequent  on  the  borders  of  the  ocean.  In  autumn  these  birds 
spread  themselves  over  the  banks  of  rivers  and  lakes.  They 
feed  upon  fish,  fry,  and  insects,  and  nest  upon  the  rocks  near  the 
sea-coast,  laying  three  eggs  of  an  olivaceous  white,  marked  with 
a  great  number  of  small  dark  spots  and  other  grayish  ones  less 
distinct.  In  Iceland  they  inhabit  the  cliffs  of  the  coast  in  vast 
numbers,  and  utter  loud  and  discordant  cries,  particularly  on 
the  approach  of  rapacious  birds,  as  the  Sea  Eagle,  which  prob- 
ably prey  upon  their  young.  Both  their  flesh  and  eggs  are 
esteemed  as  good  food. 

The  Kittiwake  is  more  strictly  a  bird  of  the  ocean  than  Nuttall's 
remarks  imply.  In  the  Far  North  —  in  Greenland  and  along  the 
shores  of  the  Arctic  Ocean  —  the  nesting  site  of  a  colony  is  usually 
at  the  head  or  inland  end  of  a  fjord  or  bay;  but  in  milder  latitudes 
the  chosen  site  is  a  craggy  cliff  against  which  the  angered  waves 
dash  with  unbroken  force.  Small  colonies  are  found  along  our 
coast  as  far  south  as  tiie  mouth  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy ;  but  farther 
north  the  number  of  birds  nesting  in  a  community  is  very  large. 
At  one  famous  range  of  cliffs  in  Norway  the  number  of  breeding 
birds  has  been  estimated  by  a  careful  naturalist  at  half  a  million. 
In  the  winter  these  birds  visit  the  New  England  shores  and  extend 
their  range  as  far  south  as  Virginia,  and  at  that  season  a  few  exam- 
ples visit  the  Great  Lakes. 

Our  bird  differs  but  little  in  its  habits  from  other  oceanic  Gulls. 
Feeding  chiefly  on  fish,  but  accepting  any  diet  that  drifts  within 
range  of  its  keen  sight ;  drinking  salt  water  in  preference  to  fresh  ; 
breasting  a  gale  with  ease  and  grace  —  soaring  in  mid-air,  skim- 
ming close  above  the  crested  waves,  or  swooping  into  the  trough 
for  a  coveted  morsel ;  resting  upon  the  rolling  billows  and  sleeping 
serenely  as  they  roll,  with  head  tucked  snugly  under  a  wing ;  wan- 
dering in  loose  flocks  and  making  comrades  of  other  wanderers ; 
devoted  to  mate  and  young  and  attached  to  all  its  kin,  —  wherever 
seen  or  however  employed,  the  Kittiwake  is  revealed  as  a  typical 
gleaner  of  the  sea. 

The  name  is  derived  from  the  bird's  singular  cry,  which  resem- 
bles the  syllable's  kitti-aa  kitti-aa. 


RING-BILLED   GL'LL. 


243 


Note.  —  Nuttall  stated  that  the  European  Common  Gull  {L. 
canus)  —  also  called  Seamkw,  frcm  its  feline  cry  —  occurs  regu- 
larly HI  winter  on  our  shores;  but  in  this  statement  he  was  merely 
following  Richardson,  who  confounded  tnis  species  with  the  Ring- 
billed  Gull.  The  only  known  instance  of  the  occurrence  of  the 
Seamew  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  is  the  taking  of  one  example 
in  Labrador  by  Dr.  Coues. 


im- 
igh 
ing 
'an- 
rs; 
ver 
cal 


RING-BILLED   GULL. 

LaRUS    UELAVVAREN'SIS. 

Char.  Mantle  deep  pearl  gray;  head,  neck,  tail,  and  under  parts 
white  ;  outer  wing  feathers  black,  tipped  with  wiiite,  the  other  primaries 
more  or  less  barred  with  black  and  tipped  with  white ;  bill  greenish  yel- 
low, with  a  band  of  black  near  the  end  and  tipped  with  orange  ;  legs  and 
feet  yellow,  sometimes  tinged  with  green. 

In  winter  the  head  and  najie  are  spotted  with  pale  dusky.  Young  birds 
are  mottled  white  and  dusky ;  on  the  upper  parts  the  dark  tint  prevails, 
varied  on  the  back  with  pale  buff,  and  the  lower  parts  are  mostly  white  ; 
tail  dusky,  tipped  with  white  and  pale  gray  at  the  base  ;  shoulders  gray  ; 
bill  dusky,  fading  toward  the  base.     Length  19^2  inches 

A'est.  ( )n  a  grassy  island  in  a  lake  or  on  an  ocean  cliff,  —  made  of  coarse 
grass  or  sea-weed. 

Ei^!;:s.  2-3;  ground  color  varied  from  pale  to  dark  buff,  sometimes 
tinged  with  green  or  slate ;  profusely  marked  with  several  shades  of 
brown  and  lilac;  average  .size  about  2.40  X  1.70. 

The  Ring-billed  Gull  is  distributed  throughout  this  continent, 
but  is  more  abundant  on  the  saline  lakes  of  the  plains  than  along 
the  sea-coast.  In  the  West  the  breeding  area  extends  from  tlie 
lower  valley  of  the  Snskatchevvan  to  Great  Salt  Lake,  but  on  the 
coast  this  Gull  does  not  nest  farther  south  than  Labrador.  It  is 
rather  common  during  spring  and  fall  on  the  New  England  coa.st, 
and  in  winter  ranges  from  the  Middle  States  to  the  VVest  Indies. 
Only  a  few  examples  have  been  taken  on  the  Great  Lakes. 

The  chief  summer  diet  of  this  species,  in  the  interior,  is  grass- 
hoppers, which  the  birds  catch  in  the  air. 


\\i 


:m- 


T 


ill 

n 


m 


\        ':■ 


It     ''j 

J:. 
it    ^ 


vJr 


■f 


M  ;!  i 


IVORY   GULL. 

Gavia  alba. 

Char.  Entire  plumage  white  ;  bill  yellow,  shading  to  greenish  gray  at 
the  base;  legs  and  feet  black.     Length  i8  inches. 

In  immature  birds  the  upper  parts  are  more  or  less  spotted  with 
brownish  gray  ;  wings  and  tail  tipped  with  dusky  brown  ;  bill  black. 

A'c's/.  On  a  sea-beach  or  high  cliff, —  a  slight  depression  in  the  soil, 
sparsely  lined  with  grass  or  moss,  sometimes  made  of  moss  and  sea-weed, 
with  a  thin  lining  of  down  and  feathers. 

^■A'.?^-  '~-  ;  P''*''"  to  dark  buff,  more  or  less  tinted  with  olive,  some- 
times olive  drab,  marked  with  several  shades  of  brown  and  lilac  ;  aver- 
age size  about  2.40  X  1.70. 

This  beautiful  species,  called  sometimes  the  Snow  Bird,  from 
the  pure  whiteness  of  its  plumage,  is  found  in  great  numbers 
on  the  coasts  of  Spitzbergen,  Greenland,  Davis's  Straits,  on 
Baffin's  Bay,  and  on  various  parts  of  the  northern  shores  of  the 


l>  ■- 


at 

trith 

oil. 
led, 

nie- 
ler- 


IVORY   GULL. 


245 


American  continent.  It  seldom  migrates  far  from  its  natal 
regions,  is  a  pretty  constant  attendant  on  the  whale- fishers, 
and  preys  on  blubber,  dead  whales,  and  other  carrion.  Dr. 
Richardson  observed  it  breeding  in  great  numbers  on  the  high 
broken  cliffs  which  form  the  extremity  of  Cape  Parry,  m  lati- 
tude 70°.  It  is  also  found  on  the  Pacific  coast  as  far  as 
Nootka  Sound,  and  commonly  wanders  far  out  to  sea,  seldom 
approaching  the  land  but  during  the  period  of  incubation.  Its 
only  note  consists  of  a  loud  and  disagreeable  scream. 

This  Gull  has  been  seen  but  seldom  on  the  American  shore  of 
the  Atlantic  soutli  of  Greenland,  and  Mr.  Hagerup  considers  it  a 
rare  bird  in  the  southern  portion  of  that  country.  Mr.  Boardman 
reports  that  two  examples  have  been  sent  to  him  from  Grand 
Menan,  and  in  tiie  winter  of  1880  I  examined  a  freshly  killed  (iuU 
that  a  "  boatnia  1  "  told  me  he  had  shot  the  day  before  off  the 
harbor  of  St.  John.  The  skin  was  identified  at  the  .Smithsonian 
Institution  as  an  immature  Ivory  Gull.  On  the  English  coast  this 
species  is  more  frequently  seen,  and  examples  have  been  taken  in 
France  and  .Switzerland;  but  it  is  only  a  straggler  outside  the 
Arctic  Circle.  The  species  is  circumpolar  in  its  range,  hut  breeds 
in  greatest  abundance  on  the  islands  wliich  lie  to  the  northward  of 
Europe. 

The  Ivory  Gulls  appear  to  spend  most  of  the  time  amid  the  pack- 
ice,  often  at  a  lon<j  distance  from  the  land.  They  are  ravenous 
feeders,  and  omnivorous  in  their  diet,  refusing  nothing.  Small 
rodents  and  shell-fish  are  alike  fair  game  to  these  gluttons,  and 
they  feast  with  apparent  relish  on  putrid  lilubber,  or  even  seals' 
excrement.  The  cry  is  said  to  be  a  loud  and  disagreeable 
scream. 


?P 


M 


'IP 

!    1 


li 


f^  i 


*m 


HKRRIXC;    GULL. 

LaRUS   argent ATUS   S\iITHSONIANUS. 

Char.  Mantle  deep  pearl  gray  ;  head,  tail,  and  under  parts  white  ; 
outer  wing-fcathors  mostly  Mack,  tipped  with  white;  bill  yellow,  with  a 
bar  <f  red  at  the  angle,  legs  and  feet  flesh  eolor.  Length  about  24 
inrhes. 

In  winter  the  head  and  neck  are  streaked  with  gray  Immature  birds 
are  mottled  brownish  gray  and  dull  white;  wings  dusky;  tail  dusky  or 
gray,  with  a  subtcrminal  bar  of  dusky;  bill  blackish  In  ymniger  speci- 
mens the  dark  tints  prevail,  some  being  almost  uniformly  dusky  brown. 
They  do  not  acquire  full  plumage  for  four  or  five  years. 

AV.iA  Usually  on  a  cliff,  often  on  a  beach  or  grassv  island,  some- 
times in  a  tree  or  under  shelter  of  a  bush,  —  generally  a  slight  affair,  a 
thin  mat  of  loosely  arranged  grass  or  moss;  though  nests  placed  in 
trees  are  bulky  and  compact. 

E,i,[^s.  2-3  (usually  3);  pale  to  dark  Iniff,  more  or  "ss  tinged  with 
green,  sometimes  nearly  olive  drp.b  ;  marked  with  st  ral  shades  of 
brown  and  lavender;  average  size  about  2. 85  X  1.95. 

The  Herring  Gtill  is  common  to  the  milder  as  well  as  cold 
countries  of  both  continents.     It  is  seen  sometimes  on  the 


irts  white  ; 

)w,  with  a 

|i   about  24 

fiture  birds 
1  chislvv  or 

[igcr  si)eci- 
;ky  brown. 

jiid,  some- 

|ht  affair,  a 

placed  in 

|ngcd  with 
shades   of 


|l  as  cold 
on  the 


HERKINU   GULL. 


247 


borders  of  lakes  and  rivers,  though  these  visitors  are  chiefly 
the  young. 

Mr.  Audubon  found  these  birds  breeding  abundantly  on 
Grand  Menan  Island,  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  on  low  fir-trees  as 
well  as  on  the  ground,  the  nest  being  large  and  loose,  com 
posed  of  sea- weeds,  roots,  sticks,  and  feathers.  They  are  very 
resentful  and  clamorous  when  approached,  screaming  or  bark- 
ing with  a  sound  like  akak  kakak.  This  Clull  also  inhabits  other 
islands,  and  he  found  it  again  in  Labrador.  It  is  ravenous,  and 
tyrannical  to  other  small  birds.  The  young  and  the  eggs  are 
considered  as  palatable  food,  though  the  principal  food  of  the 
bird  is  fish  or  floating  matter. 

This  is  the  Common  (iull  of  our  harbors  and  inland  lakes,  oc- 
curring in  abundance  tliroughout  this  continent,  and  breeding  from 
latitude  45°  northward.  Turner  found  it  abundant  on  Hudson 
Straits,  but  Hagerup  saw  very  few  examples  in  Southern  Cireenland. 
In  winter  these  birds  are  seen  in  numbers  on  the  dreat  Lakes  and 
the  larger  rivers  and  lakes  of  tlie  interior,  as  well  as  along  the  sea- 
coast  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  to  Cuba. 

Although  Herring  Gulls  appear  at  times  both  shy  and  fierce,  they 
are  easily  domesticated  if  taken  young,  and  make  pleasant  pets. 
They  tlirive  on  a  mixed  diet,  and  feast  on  cold  porridge  or  dead  rat 
with  equal  relish. 

Their  formula  for  disposing  of  a  rat  is  unique.  First  break  tiie 
rat's  bones  by  crunching  tiiein  with  the  hill  ;  tiien  dip  the  carcase 
in  water,  and  when  thoroughly  soaked,  swallow  it  whole,  —  head 
first.  _J 

Note.  —  The  European  form  of  the  Hi:uiung  CU'i.l  (/..  argcn- 
tatus)  is  said  to  occur  occasionally  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 


1 


!i 


i.  i 


m 


'■'I 

I  '  =  ■'!: 


^I'ili 


GLAUCOUS  GULL. 
burgomaster. 
Larus  glaucus. 

Char.  Mantle  pale  pearl  gray,  rest  of  plumage  white  ;  bill  yellow,  with 
a  patch  of  orange  at  the  angle ;  legs  and  feet  bright  pink.  Length  about 
32  inches  ,  female  somewhat  smaller. 

In  winter  the  head  and  neck  are  streaked  with  pale  brownish  gray 
Immature  birds  are  mottled  grayish  brown  and  iiale  gray ;  the  first 
plumage  is  the  darkest.  In  the  spring,  before  the  young  assume  the  pearl 
mantle,  their  entire  plumage  becomes  white. 

jVfst.  Usually  on  a  cliflT,  sometimes  on  a  low,  grassy  island  or  sandy 
beach ;  a  slight  affair  of  sea-weed  or  moss  or  grass. 

Ei.'g's.  2-3  ;  stone  drab  or  olive  buff",  sometimes  ])ale  buff,  marked  with 
brown  and  ashy  gray  ;  average  si/.e  about  3.00  X  2.00. 


Pf 


GLAUCOUS   GULL. 


249 


ith 
nit 

ay. 
rst 
arl 

dy 

th 


This  large  species  is  almost  wholly  confined  to  the  hyper 
boreal  regions,  where  it  inhabits  both  continents  indifferently. 
It  is  common  in  Russia,  (Greenland,  and  in  all  the  Arctic  and 
polar  seas.  In  Baffin's  Uay  and  the  adjoining  straits  and  coasts 
it  is  seen  in  cunsiderable  numbers  during  the  summer.  Its 
winter  resorts  are  yet  unknown.  From  its  great  rarity  in  the 
United  States  it  is  probable  that  this  (lull  may  not  migrate  far 
from  its  summer  residence,  as  there  can  be  no  reason  why  it 
should  proceed  south  along  the  Pacific  in  preference  to  the 
Atlantic  coast. 

These  birds  are  almost  continually  on  the  wing,  uttering 
often  a  hoarse  cry,  like  the  Raven.  They  are  extremely  tyran- 
nical, greedy,  and  voracious,  preying  not  only  on  fish  and 
small  birds,  but  also  on  carrion,  and  are  said  to  attend  on 
the  walrus  to  feed  on  its  excrement.  They  wrest  prey  from 
weaker  birds,  and  are  often  seen  hovering  in  the  air  or  seated 
on  some  lofty  pinnacle  of  ice,  whence,  having  fixed  their  eye 
upon  some  favorite  morsel,  they  dart  down  on  the  possessor, 
which,  whether  Fulmar,  (luillemot,  or  Kittiwake,  must  instantly 
resign  the  prize.  The  Auk,  as  well  as  the  young  Tenguin,  they 
not  only  rob,  but  often  wholly  devour.  I'ressed  by  hunger,  they 
sometimes  even  condescend  to  share  the  crow-berry  with  the 
Ptarmigan.  When  not  impelled  by  hunger,  they  are  rather 
shy  and  inactive  birds,  and  much  less  clamorous  than  others  of 
the  genus. 

This  species  is  decidedly  boreal  in  its  range,  breeding  in  the 
Arctic  Ocean  and  migrating  to  the  shores  of  the  northern  seas. 
Farther  south  it  is  a  straggler  merely,  thougli  in  the  Bay  ol  Fundy 
it  is  sometimes  quite  common  in  mid  winter,  A  few  examples  have 
l)een  seen  along  the  New  England  shores  and  on  the  Great 
Lakes. 

Nuttall  has  put  into  the  few  lines  given  above  all  the  peculiar 
habits  of  the  bird,  which  combine  with  some  Gull-like  traits  many 
of  the  coarse  characteristics  of  both  the  Falcon  and  \'ultiire. 

Some  observers  have  reported  that  tlie  flocks  are  at  times  very 
noisy,  particularly  wlien  st-ttiinn  for  the  niglit ;  but  t1u)se  I  iiave 
met  with  in  winter  have  been  ratlier  silent.  Their  cry  is  harsli.  and 
at  times  very  loud  ;  it  sounds  something  like  the  .syllables  kuk-hik\ 
—  I  have  seen  it  written  cut-leek. 


(J 

lii 


\\\ 


n 
lilj 


it. 


f 


i, 


1 1 


ifi- 


,  i 


Ill' 


r   1 


250  SWIMMERS. 


ICELAND  GULL. 

WHITL-WINGED  GULL. 
LaRUS   LEUCOI'IKKL'S. 

Char  Mantle  pale  pearl  gray,  rest  of  plumage  white  ;  bill  yellow, 
with  a  patch  of  orange  at  the  angle  ;  legs  and  feet  bright  pink.  Ix-ngth 
about  25  inches,  the  Icmaie  smaller.  In  winter  the  head  and  neck  are 
streaked  with  pale  brownish  gray.  Young  birds  are  mottled  grayish 
brown  and  pale  gray,  and  become  whiter  with  each  moult. 

A'est.  On  a  cliff  or  sandy  beach  ;  when  in  the  sand,  it  is  a  mere  depres- 
sion slightly  lined  with  grass,  but  when  a  rock  is  chosen  for  the  site  a 
compact  structure  is  formed  of  sea-weed  and  grass  lined  with  moss. 

^S^^-  2-3 ;  pale  or  dark  buflT  more  or  less  tinged  with  green,  some- 
times almost  olive  drab;  average  size  about  2.75  X  1.80. 

Iceland  Gull  is  a  misnomer  for  this  bird,  as  it  appears  in  Iceland 
in  winter  only,  and  then  in  very  small  numbers.  The  true  home  of 
this  Gull  is  in  that  portion  of  the  Arctic  Ocean  which  lies  north  of 
America,  and  its  breeding  area  extends  from  Greenland  to  Alaska; 
elsewhere  it  is  but  a  visitor. 

During  the  winter  these  birds  range  along  the  Atlantic  shores 
from  Labrador  to  Cape  Cod,  though  they  are  not  numerous  south 
of  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  A  few  examples  have  been  taken  on  the 
Great  Lakes. 

In  appearance  this  species  is  a  small  edition  of  the  Glaucous 
Gull,  there  l)eing  no  perceptible  difference  in  the  coloration  ;  but 
their  habits  are  quite  different. 

The  flight  of  the  Iceland  C]uII,  its  feeding  habits,  and  its  manners 
generally,  suggest  a  close  affinity  to  the  Herring  Gull  rather  than  to 
the  Burgomaster. 


kumlien's  gull. 


251 


KUMLIKN'S    (;ULL. 
Lakus  kumlikm. 

olT^nJrT^V''^  Wings  pearl  gray  ;  wings  tipped  with  white,  the 
outer  pniiKires  havng  a  sub-tcrminal  space  of  ashy  gray;  bill  ye  low 
u.,th  a^spot  ..f  red  at  .h.  angle  ;  legs  and  feet  bright  ^Zt.     Length' ^w' 

Immature  birds  ;.re  more  or  less  moaled  with  dusky  or  brownish  erav 
very  young  specimens  being  very  dark  "rownisn  gray, 

A^«/.     On  a  cliff. 
£i,:i,'s.     Not  known. 

This   species  was  described  in   1883  by  Mr.  William   iJrewster 
from  spec.mcns  that  had  been  taken  in'winter  in  the  lia^f  F^,  dv 

Cumberland  Gnlf ;  but  it  .s  not  kno\vn  to  breed  in  Greenhnd  nor 
have  nests  been  discovered  elsewhere.  Of  ti,e  bircPs  d  stTbution 
and  of  us  d.stmcf  ve  habits  nothing  further  is  known 


NoTK.  —The  SlIiKKIAN  (iULL  (L 

Greenland. 


arus  ajfinis)  occasionally  visits 


V  I 


IxtPI^'P^ 


CoV 


y.S4 


h 


GREAT   BLACK-BACKED   GULL. 

saddle-back.   cobb. 

Larus  marinus. 

Char.  Mantle  slaty  brown  ;  outer  wing-feathers  more  or  less  black, 
tipped  with  white  ;  rest  of  plumage  white;  bill  yellow,  red  at  the  angle, 
legs  and  feet  |)ink.     Length  about  30  inches. 

The  full  plumage  is  not  assumed  until  the  fourth  year  Immature 
birds  are  mottled  brown  and  white,  very  young  specimens  having  the 
upi)er  parts  almost  entirely  brown,  and  the  bill  dusky. 

M'.f/.  On  an  inaccessible  cliff  by  the  sea,  or  upon  a  rocky  island  in  a 
lake,  —  a  mere  depression  in  the  turf,  lined  with  grass  or  sea-weed  ;  some- 
times a  bulky  attair  made  of  coarse  herbage  and  lined  with  grass  and  a 
few  feathers. 

i5]i,':;',f.  2-3  (usually  3)  ;  bnffish  gray  to  deep  buff,  sometimes  slightly 
tinged  with  olive,  boldly  blotched  with  brown  and  gray  ;  average  size 
about  300  X  2.10. 

The  Saddle-back,  or  Black-backed  Gull,  is  a  general  denizen 
of  the  whole  northern  hemisphere,  and  extends  its  residence  in 


:^! 


GREAT  BLACK-BACKED   GULL. 


253 


America  as  far  as  Paraguay.  At  the  approach  of  winter  it 
migrates  not  uncommonly  as  far  as  the  sea -coasts  of  the  Mid 
die  and  extreme  Southern  States.  If  Mr.  Audubon  be  correct 
in  considering  L.  argentatoidcs  as  a  state  of  imperfect  |)lu- 
mage  of  the  present  species,  it  breeds  as  far  north  as  the  dreary 
coasts  of  Melville  Peninsula.  It  is  also  found  in  (Ireenland, 
Iceland,  l-ajjuiark,  and  the  White  Sea.  It  is  also  abundant  in 
the  (Orkneys  and  Hebrides  m  Scotland,  but  is  a  winter  bird  of 
passage  on  the  coasts  of  Holland,  France,  and  England.  It 
rarely  visits  the  interior  or  fresh  waters,  and  is  but  seldom  seen 
as  far  south  as  the  Mediterranean. 

The  Hlack-backed  Gull  feeds  ordinarily  upon  fish,  both  dead 
and  living,  as  well  as  on  fry  and  carrion,  —  sometimes  also  on 
shell-fish  ,  and,  like  most  of  the  tribe  of  larger  (lulls,  it  is 
extremely  ravenous  and  indiscriminate  in  its  appetites  when 
pressed  by  liunger.  It  watches  the  bait  of  the  fisherman,  and 
often  robs  the  hook  of  its  game.  As  Mr.  Audubon  justly  and 
strongly  remarks,  it  is  as  much  the  tyrant  of  the  sea-fowl  as  the 
Eagle  is  of  the  land-birds.  It  is  always  on  the  watch  to  gratify 
its  insatiable  appetite  ,  powerfully  muscular  in  body  and  wing, 
it  commands  without  control  over  the  inhabitants  of  the  ocean 
and  its  borders.  Its  flight  is  majestic,  and,  like  the  Raven,  it 
soars  in  wide  circles  to  a  great  elevation,  at  which  times  its 
loud  and  raucous  cry  or  laughing  bark  of  'cak,  \-ak,  ^cak  is 
often  heard.  I -ike  the  keen-eyed  Eagle,  it  is  extremely  shy 
and  wary,  most  difficult  of  access,  and  rarely  obtained  but  by 
accident  or  stratagem.  It  is  the  particular  enemy  of  the  grace- 
ful Eider,  pouncing  upon  and  devouring  its  young  on  every 
occasion,  and  often  kills  considerable-sized  Ducks.  In  pur- 
suit of  crabs  or  lobsters  it  plunges  beneath  the  water ;  has  the 
ingenuity  to  pick  up  a  shell-fish,  and  carrying  it  high  in  the 
air,  drops  it  upon  a  rock  to  obtain  its  contents  ;  it  catches 
moles,  rats,  young  hares ;  gives  chase  to  the  Willow  Grouse, 
and  sucks  her  eggs  or  devours  her  callow  brood  ;  it  is  even  so 
indiscriminate  in  its  ravenous  and  cannibal  cravings  as  to  devour 
the  eggs  of  its  own  species.  In  short,  it  has  no  mercy  on  any 
object  that  can  contribute  in  any  way  to  allay  the  cravings  of 


\ 


'p 


[•'<' 


t 


:/5 


.  •*• 


n  ,-. 


254 


SWIMMERS. 


its  insatiable  hunger  and  delight  in  carnage.  Though  cowardly 
towards  man,  before  whom  it  abandons  its  young,  its  sway 
among  the  feathered  tribes  is  so  fierce  that  even  the  different 
species  of  Li's/ns,  themselves  daring  pirates,  give  way  at  its 
approach. 

In  lOurope  the  Saddle-backed  (lulls  breed  as  far  south  as  the 
Lundy  Islands  in  the  Bristol  Channel,  in  England.  Mr.  Audu- 
bon, who  lately  visited  the  dreary  coast  of  Labrador,  found 
them  breeding  there  on  rocks,  laying  about  three  eggs,  large,  and 
of  a  dirty  dull  brown,  spotted  and  splashed  all  over  with  dark 
brown.  The  young  as  soon  as  hatched  walk  about  among  the 
rocks,  patiently  waiting  the  return  of  their  parents,  who  supply 
them  am])ly  with  food  until  they  become  able  to  fly,  after 
which,  as  among  the  true  rapacious  birds,  they  are  driven  oflf 
and  abandoned  to  their  own  resources. 

This  species,  like  others,  does  not  attain  its  completi'  plu- 
mage until  the  third  year.  The  full-plumaged  are  dark-colored 
birds,  breeding  together.  The  eggs  and  young  are  catal)le  ; 
the  latter,  taken  before  they  are  able  to  fly,  are  pickled  in  large 
quantities,  and  used  in  Newfoundland  for  winter  provision. 

The  Saddle-back  breeds  from  the  Hay  of  Fundytohigh  latitudes, 
and  in  winter  is  found  along  the  coast  from  Greenland  to  Lony 
Island.  A  few  examples  visit  tiic  C.reat  Lakes.  It  is  not  frequently 
seen  in  the  liarljors  of  New  England,  but  on  the  open  sea-shore 
is  quite  common. 


•-■"!??yw»T-v  rr«v  »*«i3 


'^s;^^^;^ 


SKUA. 

PARASITIC    GULL. 

Megalfstris  skua. 

Char.  Upper  parts  sooty  brown,  varied  with  reddish  brown  and  dull 
white,  the  nape  spotted  with  biilT  ,  wings  and  tail  brown,  sliading  to 
white  at  the  base,  which  on  the  wing  forms  a  conspicuous  patch  when  in 
Might ;  under  parts  paler  brown,  the  breast  varied  with  rufous  ,  bill,  legs, 
and  feet,  black.     I-ength  about  22  inches. 

A'es/.  On  an  inaccessible  ocean  island  ;  a  hollow  pressed  in  the  moss 
and  sparsely  lined  with  grass  and  a  few  feathers. 

/?i,';^.f.  1-3  (usually  2) ;  pale  to  dark  buff  or  buflRsh  brown,  sometimes 
with  a  slight  tinge  of  olive,  marked  with  darker  brown  and  gray  ;  average 
size  about  2.80  X  2.00. 

This  Sea-Falcon,  with  raptorial  beak  and  claws,  and  Hawk-like 
quality  of  character,  —  preying  upon  the  weak  and  the  small  of  its 
own  race,  robbing  those  it  cannot  kill,  and  by  way  of  individuality 
adding  to  its  relish  for  flesh  and  fish  a  partiality  for  eggs.  —  this 


,1! 


!( in 

SI  «' 


r  f' 


256 


SWIMMERS. 


pirate  of  the  main,  daring  and  strong,  and  wary  as  lyld,  has  too 
slight  claim  i:::  recognition  here  to  demand  an  extended  notice. 

These  b'rds  live  as  solitary  as  Eagles,  but  ueftnd  theii  nests  as 
few  Eagles  are,  attacking  fiercely  man  or  dog  venturing  to  ap- 
proach, and  displaying  a  front  that  few  dogs  care  to  close  upon. 
The  nests  are  built  chiefiy  within  the  Arctic  Circle  and  m  northern 
Europe,  and  the  birds  visit  our  waters  only  in  winter,  and  but  rarely 
then  :  and  the  few  example-,  that  do  wander  this  way  are  never  seen 
near  the  shore,  but  are  met  with  by  the  risliermen,  whose  boats  they 
follow  for  the  refuse. 


■:  i 

III. 


I 


oo 

as 

•P- 

m. 

ni 

ly 

211 


^i,> 


POMARINM   JAKCiKR. 

S'lKRCORARIUS    POMARINUS. 

Chak.  Light  phase:  Toj)  of  head  and  iiii]X'r  parts  sooty  'towii  or 
dusky;  neck  and  under  paits  while,  tlie  neck  tinged  witli  veilow,  Dark 
phase:  Entirely  <iark  sooty  l)ro\vn  or  slatv  bl;i(  k  ;  ihi' twn  niiddl'  tail- 
feathers  project  beyond  the  otlier  ;ind  ;tre  twisted.  ISill  (l;uk  .t;rav, 
tipped  witli  Vjhack  ;   legs  and  tret  black.     l.cn.L'th  about  21  inclie-. 

Some  naturalists  think  the  dark  jjlia^^e  assumed  by  this  ltcuus  is  nirrely 
nielanistic;  but  numerous  c.xamplo  are  met  with  that  combine  \ari;itions 
of  the  two,  these  "  pied  "  forms  jjeins  in  the  inaioritv  ratlu  1  than  excep- 
tional,     ^'oung  birds  arc  mure  or  less  nvitlled  with  buff 

A^t'sf.  On  a  drv  knoll  of  a  moorland  mar.>h  or  tundra,  sometimes  on 
a  rocI^. — .1   ;.ie."'^  liollow  stamped  in  the  moss. 

E\:^.     -;  pai^  ^o  dark  olive,  tinned  with  russet   and  boldly  markerl 
witV.    ■:o\«.u  ;  nv".   ge  size  2  y~,  >'   1.65. 
\v\..  ■''.  —   '- 


0 


!  ill 


I  m 


f 


Si  3 
■!,■■ 

'..  h 


ir'i 


2;8 


SWIMMERS. 


This  species  chiefly  inhabits  the  Arctic  seas  of  both  conti- 
nents, whence  it  migrates  short  distances  in  winter,  and  is  then 
seen  in  Sweden  and  Norway,  and  perhaps  also  in  the  Orkneys 
and  the  west  of  Scotland  ;  the  old  very  rarely  visit  the  banks 
of  the  Rhine  antl  the  coasts  of  the  ocean  ;  the  young  are  more- 
given  to  wanilering,  and  are  sometimes  even  seen  upon  the 
lakes  of  Switzerland  and  (iermany.  According  to  Richardson, 
the  Pomarine  Jaeger  is  seen  in  the  Arctic  seas  of  America  and 
about  the  northern  outlets  of  Hudson  Bay.  Mr.  Audubon  ob- 
tained specimens  on  the  coast  of  Labrador.  It  subsists  on 
putrid  and  other  animal  substances  thrown  up  by  the  sea,  and 
also  on  fish  and  other  matters  which  the  (lulls  disgorge  when 
p'lrsued  by  it;  it  also  ilevour«  the  eggs  of  sea-birds.  It  goes 
more  to  sea  in  winter,  and  also  towards  the  south,  arriving  at 
Hudson  Bay  in  May,  coming  in  from  seaward.  It  is  rare  and 
accidental  jn  the  coast  of  the  United  States. 

This  ocean  prowler  and  parasite  breeds  in  the  Aretic  regions, 
and  in  winter  roams  on  the  open  sea,  wandering  southward  ;is  far 
as  the  latitude  of  the  Middle  States.  It  occurs  occasionally  in  the 
Bay  of  Fundy,  and  a  few  examples  have  been  taken  on  the  Great 
Lakes. 


!   I 


PARASrriC    JAEdl'.K. 

ARCTIC    J.\EGER.      RICIIARDSOX'S    JAF.CI'.R.     MAN-OF-WAR. 
StFRC ■( tRARirS     F'ARASri'K  I  S. 

Char.  Light  phase  :  Upper  parts  shity  hrowii ;  top  of  head  gravish 
brown;  rest  of  head  and  neck  wliitc,  varied  with  yellow;  under  parts 
white.  Dark  plia^^e  :  Entire  ]ilumage  sooty  slate.  .Shafts  of  primaries 
white  ;  middle  tail-feathers  long,  nar'-ow,  and  pointed  ;  bill  slaty  gray 
tipped  with  black;  legs  and  feet  black.     Length  about  20  inches. 

Voung  birds  of  both  phases  are  inotikii  md  more  or  less  varied  with 
buff.  Adults  also  are  met  with  in  a  mixed  i)lumage,  and  these  mottled 
specimens  arc  much  more  lumierous  than  birds  in  full  i)lumagc. 

A'W.  On  an  open  moorland  near  the  sea  or  the  margin  of  a  lake,  or 
upon  an  ocean  island,  —  a  mere  hollow  in  the  mossy  turf,  slightly  lined 
with  grass  and  leaves. 

^A'A  '•  '~3  (usually  ::)  ;  "live  green,  sometimes  deeply  tinged  with  yel- 
low or  reddish  brown,  markrd  with  brown  of  several  shades  and  lilac; 
average  size  about  j.30  X  i  60. 


LONG-TAILED    fAKGER. 


259 


This  species  has  iK-en  incorrectly  named  the  Arctic  Jaeger,  or 
Skua,  as  tlie  birds  of  this  .t^roup  are  called  by  British  Ornitholo- 
gists, —  for  it  is  less  Arctic  in  its  distribution  than  either  of  its  rela- 
tives. All  this  group  breed  in  iiigh  latitudes;  but  while  the  other 
species  build  within  the  Arctic  Circle,  the  Parasitic  Jaeger  nests  in 
numbers  in  Southern  (ireenland  and  throughout  the  higlier  portions 
of  the  fur  countries,  and  nests  have  been  found  in  Scotland.  In 
winter  this  bird  is  common  along  the  coast  as  far  south  as  the  Bay 
of  Funciy,  and  some  few  examples  wander  along  the  New  England 
shores. 

The  Jaegers  are  very  similar  in  their  habits.  All  are  strong  birds, 
of  swift  and  skilful  Hight,  and  all  obtain  their  chief  food  supply  by 
robbing  the  Gulls  of  their  prey. 

The  Kittiwake  is  the  victim  most  frequently  selected  by  the 
Parasitic  Jaeger,  and  the  little  Gull  has  small  chance  for  escape 
from  its  more  powerful  antagonist,  who  pursues  and  attacks  until 
tlic  coveted  fish  is  dropped.  But  our  bird  does  not  limit  its  diet 
to  fish,  —  young  Gulls  and  eggs  are  quite  as  acceptable  to  the 
Jaeger's  palate.  —  nor  does  it  refuse  any  carrion  the  drift  may 
offer,  and  in  extremity  will  feast  on  crow-berries. 


I 

i 

i.tf 


Ivisli 

),TltS 

fcvith 
Itled 

or 
liied 

\cl 

lac  ; 


LON  (;-'r  AT  LED   J  A  EGER. 

BUFFON'S   SKUA. 
StERU  )RARIUS    L()N(J[CAUDU.S. 

Char.  Upper  parts  dark  brownish  slate,  shading  to  darker  on  wings 
and  tail ;  top  of  head  sooty  black  ;  rest  of  head  and  neck  huffish  yellow, 
paler  on  the  throat ;  breast  white,  shading  into  the  grayish  hrown  of  the 
bellv  ;  shafts  of  two  outer  jirimaries  white  ;  middle  tail-feathers  narrow 
and  pointed,  and  extending  foin-  to  eight  inches  beyond  the  lateral  feath- 
ers ;  bill  gravi-.h  black:  legs  olive  gray,  feet  black.  Length  about  23 
inches. 

Young  biids  are  grayish  l)rown,  more  or  less  barred  with  white  and 
buff.  Distinguished  from  arcticus  bv  its  rather  smaller  and  vljnin.cr 
form  and  the'greatcr  length. /..w,^//r,  of  the  cendal  tail-featluMs,  also  hv 
the  grayer  tints  of  the  back  and  the  absence  of  white  on  all  the  |)rinianes 
cxceining  the  outer  two. 

AV.iA  Tn  a  colony  on  a  barren  moorland  ov  tundra  near  the  sea,  or  liv 
an  inland  lake  or  upon  an  i-land,  — a  sliglU  hollow  stamped  in  the  turt  ''•1 
soil  and  lined  with  a  few  hits  of  grass  or  leaves, 

F.i;X'y.  1-5  (usually  2);  i)ale  to  dark  olive,  sometimes  reddish  huff, 
marked  with  hrown  and  gray  ;  average  >i/c  about  2.10  V   1.50. 


2  Co 


S\VIM.MEkS. 


This  is  the  most  northerly  in  its  range  of  the  Jaegers,  and  has 
the  widest  distribution.  Its  breeding  area  hes  exchisively  witliin 
the  Arctic  Circle,  and  follows  that  line  throughout  its  circuit.  These 
birds  appear  off  the  New  England  coasts  during  the  spring  and 
fall,  and  at  those  seasons  are  common  in  the  iJay  of  Fundy.  As 
they  have  not  been  seen  near  (he  shore  farther  to  the  southward, 
tliey  probably  winter  on  mid-ocean. 

In  its  habits  the  Long-tailed  Jaeger  does  not  differ  materially 
from  the  other  species. 


^i 


ft  \ 


I  li 


IJi.ACK    SKIMMKR. 

KA/OR-lilLL. 
Rv\C HOI'S    \I(;KA. 

Char.  L'pi)cr  parts  black,  deeper  on  tlie  wings  ;  outer  tail-fe;itliers 
wliitc  ;  forehead,  ]).Ul'1i  on  the  win^s,  ami  under  parts  white  ;  Mil  lon;^ 
and  compressed,  the  lower  niandihlc  inncli  longer  than  the  uiijjer ;  basal 
half  of  bill  blight  red,  the  rest  blacU  ;  legs  and  feet  red.  Length  17  to  19 
inches. 

A'i's/.  A  slight  hollow  scratched  in  the  sand  of  a  sea-beacli  or  Ijancn 
islam!. 

/•,';';.i.  2-5 ;  creamy  white  or  ]Dale  buff  boldly  marked  with  rich  brown 
and  lilac;  average  size  about  1.75  X  1.35. 

The  ("iit-water,  or  Black  Skimmer,  is  a  bird  of  ])assage  in 
the  I'nited  States,  appearing  in  New  Jersey  from  its  tropical 
winter  (juarters  early  in  May.  Mere  it  resides,  and  breeds  in 
its  favorite  haunts  along  the  low  sand-liars  and  dry  flats  of  the 
strand,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  ocean.  T'l.e  nests  of 
tiiese  birds  have  been  foimd  along  the  shoies  of  Cape  May 
about  tlie  l)eginning  of  Jiuie,  and  consist  of  a  mere  holiow 
scratched  c^ut  in  the  sand,  without  the  addition  of  any  extrane- 
ous materials.  As  the  birds,  likt'  the  Terns  and  (lulls,  to  which 
they  are  allied,  remain  gregarious  through  the  breeding-season, 
it  is  possible  to  collect  a  half  bushel  or  more  of  the  eggs  from 
a  single  sand-bar  within  the  compass  of  half  an  acre  :  and 
though  not  very  palatable,  they  are  still  eaten  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  coast.     The   female  only  sits  on  her  nest  during 


the    night   or   in    wet 


and 


siormv    weatb.er  ;    but    the    young 


hi 
t! 


I5LACK    SKIMMKR. 


261 


Is  ia 
f  the 

sts  of 
May 

lollow 
rane- 
^liich 
a  son, 
from 
and 
ihabi- 
uring 
.'oung 


remain  for  several  weeks  bef  ;re  they  ac(iuire  the  full  use  of 
their  wings,  and  are  during  that  period  assiduously  led  by  both 
parents.  At  first  they  are  scarcely  distinguishable  from  the 
sand  by  the  similarity  of  their  color,  and  during  this  period 
may  often  be  seen  basking  in  the  sun  and  spreading  out  their 
wings  upon  the  warm  beach.  The  pair,  retiring  to  the  South 
in  September  or  as  soon  as  their  young  are  prepared  lor  their 
voyage,  raise  but  a  single  brood  in  the  season. 

The  Skimmer  is,  1  believe,  unknown  to  the  north  of  the  sea- 
coast  of  New  Jersey,  and  pnjbably  [)asses  the  perioil  of  rei)ro- 
duction  along  the  whole  of  the  southern  coast  of  the  United 
States.  'I'he  species  is  also  met  \»ith  in  the  e([uatorial  regions, 
where  it  is  alike  resident  as  far  as  Surinam,  but  never  pene- 
trates into  the  interior,  being,  properly  sjjeaking,  an  oceanic 
genus.  Its  voice,  like  thai  of  the  Tern,  is  loud,  harsh,  and 
stridulous.  In  (juest  ui  its  usual  [irey  uf  small  fish  and  mol- 
lusca,  it  is  frecpiently  observed  skimming  close  along  shore 
about  the  first  of  the  fiocjfl  tide,  proceeding  leisurely  with  a 
slowly  flapping  flight,  and  balancing  itself  on  its  lung  and  out- 
stretched wings ;  it  is  seen  every  ncnv  and  then  to  dii),  with 
bendeil  neck,  its  lower  mandible  into  the  sea,  and  with  open 
mouth  receives  its  food,  thus  gleaning  and  ploughing  along  the 
yielding  surface  of  the  prolific  deep.  The  birds  keep  also 
among  the  sheltered  inlets  which  intervene  between  the  main- 
land and  the  sea,  where  they  roam  about  in  companies  of 
eight  or  ten  together,  passing  and  repassing  at  the  flood  t''le, 
like  so  many  grotesque  and  gigantic  Swallows,  the  estuaries  of 
the  creeks  and  inlets  whi(  h  penetrate  into  the  salt-marshes, 
exhibiting  the  neccssar}-  aKrtuiss  in  the  capture  of  their 
approaching  l)rey,  which  ofliMi  consists  of  small  crabs  and  the 
more  minute  cru^taceous  animals  which  abound  in  such  situa- 
tions, and  around  the  masses  of  floating  sea-weed  and  wrecks. 
I)Ut  though  so  e\clusi\-ely  maritime,  the  range  of  the  Cut- 
waters is  entirely  limited  to  tln'  itearcfifl  and  (  aim  border-,  of 
the  strand  ;  notwithstanding  llu'  va^t  exp.m^ion  of  their  long 
wings,  they  have  no  inducement  to  follow  the  aihentunms 
flight  of  the  IV'trel,  as  the   e\er-agiiated  and   wave-tossed  sur- 


I 


ri' 


262 


SWIMMLKS. 


face  of  the  restless  deep  would  be  to  them,  with  the  peculiar 
mechanism  of  their  bill,  a  barren  void  over  which  they  conse- 
quently never  roam,  and  on  whose  bosom  they  rarely  ever  rest, 
preferring,  with  the  Terns,  when  satisfied  with  food,  the  calm, 
indolent,  ami  surer  repose  of  the  isolated  shoal  left  bare  by 
the  recess  of  the  tide,  where,  associated  in  flocks,  they  are  often 
seen  to  rest  from  their  toilsome  and  precarious  employ. 

The  Skimmer  continues  to  this  clay  to  make  its  nest  on  the 
sands  of  tlie  New  Jersey  shore,  and  thence  southward,  and  is  ratlier 
conuiion  on  the  coast  of  Viri^inia  and  Florida.  Fislicrmcn  liave 
reported  that  Skimmers  nested  on  Muske<;at  many  years;  ])ut  tiiey 
have  ceased  coming  so  far  nortli  regularly,  thougli  occasionally  an 
individual  makes  an  excursion  along  the  New  England  shore,  and 
several  liave  been  seen  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy. 


„■■■,  i-. 


ill 


V 


n 


iliar 
ise- 
•est, 
\\m, 
'.  by 
ften 


the 
ther 

liave 

they 

y  an 

and 


tl 


Li'ACH's  im:trel. 

FOKK-TAILED    I'ETKKL. 
OCF.AX(iI>K().MA    LiaCtiKlloA. 

CiiAU  L'ppcr  parts  dull  black  ,  upper  tail  coverts  white  ;  tail  forked  . 
under  parts  sooty  black;  bill,  legs,  and  feet  black.  Length  about  S 
inches 

-W.fA  A  thin  cushion  of  grass  or  moss  at  the  end  of  a  burrow  in  the 
soil  at  the  toj)  of  an  ocean  cliff. 

Ex,i;s  •  ,  white,  marked  chiefly  around  tlic  larger  end  with  fine  spots 
of  reddish  brown  and  lilac  ,  average  size  about  i  30  X  i  00. 

This  is  a  bird  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  beint^  as  common  on 
the  Pacific  Ocean  as  on  the  Atlantic  Its  cliief  breeding  station 
on  our  siiores  is  anions.;  the  islands  at  the  nniiith  of  the  IJav  <>{ 
Ftmdv.  but  tlie  open  ocean  is  the  bird's  true  home. 

Leach's  Petrels  are  seldom  seen  ai)Oiit  their  nesting  site  diirinj^ 
the  day,  thoui^jh  in  the  eveninji;  they  asseml)le  there;  and  when 
fluttering  through  the  twilight  or  under  the  moon's  guidance,  they 
have  the  appearance  of  a  foraging  scituid  of  bats,  though  the  bird's 
wild,  plaintive  notes  betrav  their  race.  The  Petrels  are  not  strictly 
nocturnal,  however;  for  while  one  of  a  pair  sits  (lose  on  the  nest 
all  day,  —and  this  one  has  been  generally  the  male,  in  my  e.xjjeri- 
ence.  —  the  mate  is  out  at  sea. 

When  handled,  the.se  birds  emit  from  mouth  and  nostrils  a  small 
quantity  of  oil-like  thiid  of  .1  redilisli  color  and  pungent,  musk-like 


I  i 


*  I 


I  ?rV  ^ 


264 


SWIMMERS. 


(ulur.     Tliu  air  at  tlie  nesting  site  is  slri)ngly  impregnated  with  this 
udur,  ami  it  guides  a  searclier  lo  the  nest. 

Petrels  appear  very  iielples.<  on  the  land,  walking  or  rising  on 
the  wing  with  ditlkulty  .  but  ni  the  air  they  are  as  graceful  as  swal 
lows,  and  tiy  with  equal  skill.  A  storm  is  their  delight,  and  the 
trough  between  white-capped  waves  a  lavoritc  teeding  place.  The 
birds  skim  close  to  tiie  water,  and  continually  dip  their  ieel  into  it 
as  they  tly. 


WILSONS  im:'I'ki:i.. 

OCKAMIKS    <)CI;.\MCL>. 

CilAU  GciKral  i)hinia,i,'C  sxjiy  black,  il.iiker  nn  \viny>  ami  Uiii  ;  lail- 
ctjvcrls  wliiici  tail  s(|iiar(.- ;  bill  and  leg>  l)lack  ,  \vel)s  of  the  feet  yelluw 
at  ilicir  bases.     lAiiyili  about  y'/z  inches. 

.ViS/.     In  crevice?,  of  rocks  or  amid  louse  fragiiKiiis 

Ei;xs.  I  ;  white,  marked  cliicily  around  the  lari;i.r  eiul  wilii  line  sijots 
of  puiplish  red;  average  si/c  .itjont  1.30  X  0.90. 

This  ominous  har])ingc'r  of  the  deep  is  seen  nearly  through- 
out the  whole  e.vjjanse  of  the  .Atlantic,  from  Newfoimdland  to 
the  tropical  parts  of  .America,  whence  it  wanders  even  to 
.Africa  and  the  coasts  of  Spain.  From  the  ignorance  and 
superstiti(jn  of  mariners,  an  unfavorable  [prejudice  has  long 
been  entertained  against  these  adventurous  and  harmless  wan- 
derers ;  and  as  sinister  messengers  of  the  storm,  in  which  they 
are  often  involved  with  the  vessel  they  follow,  they  have  been 
very  unjustly  stigmatized  bv  the  name  of  Stormy  Petrels, 
Devil's  r.irds.  and  .Mother  Carey's  Chickens.  .At  nearly  all 
seasons  of  tlie  vear  these  Swallow- Petrels  in  small  flocks  are 
seen  wandering  alm<jst  alone  over  the  wide  waste  of  the 
ocean. 

On  the  edge  of  scjundings,  as  the  vessel  loses  sight  ot  the 
distant  headland  ,ind  launches  into  the  depths  of  the  un- 
bounded atid  fearful  abyss  of  waters,  Hocks  of  these  dark,  swift- 
Hving,  and  ominous  birds  begin  to  shoot  around  the  vessel,  and 
finally  take  their  station  in  her  foaming  wake.  In  this  situa- 
tion, as  humble  iki»endants.  they  follow  for  their  pittance  of 
fare,  constantlv  and   keenlv  watching   the   agitatetl   surge   for 


7 


the 
un- 
Ivift- 
md 
tiia- 
of 
for 


WILSONS   I'KTRL:I. 


26: 


lloating  iiiollusca,  and  arc  (.'xtromcly  gratified  with  any  kind  cf 
fat  animal  matter  thrown  overboard,  which  they  invariably  dis- 
cover, however  small  the  morsel,  (jr  mountainous  and  foaming 
the  raging  wave  on  which  it  may  happen  to  tloat.  On  making 
such  discovery  they  suddenly  stop  ni  their  airy  and  swallow- 
like night,  and  whirl  mstantly  down  to  the  water.  Sometimes 
nine  or  ten  thus  crowd  together  like  a  flock  of  chickens 
scrambling  tor  the  same  morsel  ;  at  the  same  time,  pattering 
on  the  water  with  their  feet,  as  if  walking  on  the  surface,  they 
balance  themselves  with  gently  fluttering  and  outspread 
wings,  and  often  dip  down  their  heads  to  collect  the  sinking 
(jbject  in  |)ursuit.  On  other  occasions,  as  if  seeking  reliel  from 
their  almost  perpetual  exercise  of  ilight,  they  jerk  and  Imp 
widely  over  the  water,  rebounding,  as  their  feet  touch  the  sur- 
face, with  great  agility  and  alertness. 

'There  is  something  cheerful  and  amusing  in  the  sight  of 
these  little  voyaging  (locks  steadily  following  after  the  vcsmI, 
so  light  and  unconcerned,  across  the  dreary  ocean.  During  a 
gale  it  is  truly  mtercsting  to  witness  their  intrepidity  and  ad- 
dress. Unappalled  by  the  storm  that  strikes  terror  into  the 
breast  of  the  mariner,  they  are  seen  coursing  wildly  and  r;i|)idly 
over  the  waves  ;  descending  their  sides,  then  mounting  with  the 
breaking  surge  which  threatens  to  burst  over  their  heads, 
swee])ing  through  the  hollow  waves  as  in  a  sheltered  valley, 
and  again  mounting  with  the  rising  billow,  they  trip  and  jerk 
sportively  and  securely  on  the  surface  of  the  roughest  sea, 
def)ing  the  horrors  of  the  storm,  and,  like  some  magic  being, 
seem  to  take  delight  in  braving  overwhelming  dangers.  At 
other  :mes  we  see  these  aerial  mariner^  playfully  coursing 
from  side  to  side  in  the  waki-  of  the  ship,  making  excursions 
far  and  wide  on  every  side,  now  in  a(l\-ance,  then  far  behind, 
returning  again  to  the  vessel  as  if  she  were  stationary,  though 
moving  at  the  most  rapid  rate.  .\  little  after  dark  they  gener- 
ally cease  their  arduous  course  and  take  their  interrupted  rest 
upon  the  water,  arriving  in  the  wake  of  the  vessel  they  h;id 
left,  as  I  have  observed,  by  about  nine  or  ten  o'clock  of  the 
following  morning.     In  this  way  we  were  followeil  by  the  same 


j:  ill 


I 


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) 


366 


SWI.MMKKS. 


flork  of  birds  tu  the  soundings  of  the  Azores,  ami  until  wc 
came  in  sight  of  the  Isle  of  Flores. 

A(  cording  U)  iUiffon,  the   IV-trel  accjuires  its  name  from  thr 
Apostle  I'eter,  who,  as  well  as  his  Master,  is  said  to  have  walked 


ui)()n 


the 


water. 


At  times  we  hear  from  these  otherwise  silent 


birds  by  day,  a  low  7i'<r/,  uuct,  and  in  their  craving  anxiety  ap- 
parently to  obtain  something  from  us,  they  utter  a  low,  twitter- 
ing '/f'-///,  or  chirp.  In  tiie  nigiit,  when  disturbed  by  the  passage 
of  the  vessel,  they  rise  in  a  low,  vague,  and  hurried  llight  from 
the  water,  and  utter  a  singular  guttural  chattering  like  laik  latk 
k'k,  k'k,  or  something  similar,  ending  usually  in  a  sort  of  low 
twitter  like  tiial  of  a  Swallow. 

These  Petrels  are  said  to  breed  in  great  numbers  on  the 
rocky  shores  of  the  Bahama  and  the  Bermuda  Islands  and 
along  some  parts  of  the  coast  of  I'^ast  Florida  and  Cuba.  Mr. 
Audubon  informs  me  that  they  also  breed  in  large  flocks  on 
the  mud  and  sand  islands  off  Cape  Sable  in  Nova  Scotia,  bur- 
rowing downwards  from  the  surface  to  the  depth  of  a  foot  or 
more.  They  also  commonly  employ  tiie  holes  and  cavities  of 
rocks  near  the  sea  for  this  purpose.  The  eggs,  according  to 
Mr.  Audubon,  are  three,  white  and  translucent.  After  the 
period  of  incubation  they  return  to  feed  their  young,  only  dur- 
ing the  night,  with  the  oily  food  which  they  raise  from  their 
stomachs.  At  these  times  they  are  heard  through  most  part 
of  the  night  making  a  continued  cluttering  sound,  like  frogs. 
In  June  and  July,  or  about  the  time  that  they  breed,  they  are 
still  seen  out  at  sea  for  scores  of  leagues  from  the  land,  the 
swiftness  of  their  flight  allowing  them  daily  to  make  these  vast 
excursions  in  quest  of  their  ordinary  prey  ;  and  hence,  besides 
their  suspicious  ap])earance  in  braving  storms,  as  if  aitled  by 
the  dark  Ruler  of  tiie  Air,  they  breed,  according  to  the  vulgar 
opinion  oi  sailors,  like  no  other  honest  i)inl ;  for  taking  no 
time  for  the  purpose  on  land,  they  merely  hatch  their  egg 
under  their  wings  as  they  sit  on  the  water. 

The  food  of  this  sjiecies,  according  to  Wilson,  appears  to 
consist  of  the  gelatinous  s]")()ra  of  the  gulf-weed  {Fi/ciis  iia- 
tans),  as  well  as   small    fish,   barnacles,   and    ])rol)al)ly  manv 


I 


ST()RM\'    PE'IKKI, 


267 


\Vl' 


small  muUusca.  Their  Ik-sh  is  rank,  oily,  and  unplcasani 
tu  the  taste.  Their  food  is  even  converted  into  oil  by  the 
digestive  process,  and  they  abound  with  it  to  such  a  drum' 
that,  according  to  Hrunnich,  the  uihabitants  of  t!ie  I'aro  lsle> 
make  their  carcases  serve  the  purpose  of  a  ( andle  by  draw- 
ing a  wick  through  the  nuMith  and  rump,  whit  h  being  lighteil, 
the  (lame  is  for  a  consideral)le  time  supported  by  the  fat  and 
oil  of  the  body. 

Audubon  li'd  Nullall  .istray  rog.udiiin  llic  l)rcc'iling  of  Wilson's 
rctrcl.  conlouiidiiig  it  willi  Leach's  I't'trLl.  The  nesting-place  of 
the  jjresL'nt  species  and  the  appearance  of  the  egg  weii'  unknown 
until  a  few  years  ago,  when  the  members  ot  the  Tninsit  of  Venus 
Expedition  di::covered  a  colony  of  the  birds  on  Kerguelen  Island, 
ni  the  Southern  Ocean,  and  i)rou<;l)t  back  some  of  the  eggs,  which 
were  taken  during  January  and  February. 

Wilson's  I'etrel.  therefore,  would  have  little  reason  upon  wliicli 
to  rest  a  claim  to  be  ranked  as  an  "American"  i)ird,  were  it  not 
for  the  "  three  mile-limit "  clause  in  international  law.  These 
birds  come  towards  the  shore  and  into  the  harbors  and  creeks  in 
search  of  food.  They  have  been  met  with  all  along  our  coast,  from 
northern  Labrador  to  the  tropiis.  for  they  are  true  cosmopolitans. 


irt 
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STORMY    PHTRi:!,. 

MOTHER  CAREY'S  CHICKEN. 
PrOCKM.ARIA     I'KI.ACKA. 

Chak      General  plumage  sooty  lilack  or  blackish  brown  ;  ujipcr  tail 
featlier.s  white,  tipped  with  black  ;  tail  square  or  sli^htlv  rounded  ;  bill, 
legs,  and  feet  black.     Length  about  3'+  inches. 

AV.iY  Usually  in  a  burrow,  sometimes  in  a  crevice  of  a  rock  or  amid 
loose  stones  ;  generally  a  thin  cushion  of  weed-stems  or  grass,  but  often 
the  egg  is  laid  on  tlie  bare  soil. 

/ti,';;,'^^'.  I ;  white,  faintly  marked  with  line  spots  of  reddish  brown  ;  aver- 
age size  115  X  o.Sv 

Of  the  three  s])ecies  of  Swallow-like  Petrels  tliat  arc  seen  regu- 
larly on  the  Xortli  Atlantic,  the  ])rcsent  is  tiie  rarest;  and  this  is 
seldom  seen  near  the  shore,  and  never  south  of  New  England.  It 
breeds  abundantly  on  the  liritish  Islands  and  along  the  coast  of 
Norway,  and   is  said  to  breed  in  the    Mediterranean  Sea.  on  the 


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African  coast.  In  winter  it  wanders  south  to  the  Azores  antl 
Canaries. 

TIk-  Stormy  Petrel,  or  Least  Petrel,  as  it  was  formerly  called,  is 
the  smallest  of  the  weh-footed  birds,  and  on  the  wing  has  something 
of  the  appearance  of  a  Barn  Swallow.  It  has  completely  webbed 
feet,  and  can  swim  with  ease,  but  is  very  seldom  seen  upon  the 
surface  of  the  water,  though  it  has  a  curious  habit  of  skimming  clo.se 
to  the  surface  and  paddling  the  water  with  its  feet,  whence  is  said 
to  have  originated  the  name  of  Petrel,  or  "  Little  Peter."  The  bird 
is  rarely  seen  walking  on  the  land,  though  it  can  walk  with  ease 
and  is  rather  graceful ;  but  the  head  and  body  are  carried  so  far 
Ml  advance  of  the  feet  as  to  make  the  Petrel  appear  unsteady. 

Like  others  of  this  group,  the  Stormy  Petrel  does  not  often  appear 
about  its  nesting  site  during  the  day,  and  those  examples  that  have 
been  captured  alive  have  shown  so  little  inclination  to  di.splay  any 
activity  before  the  approach  of  sunset  that  the  species  has  *^een 
considered  nocturnal;  but  those  that  are  met  with  on  the  open 
ocean  are  busily  engaged  gleaning  food  through  all  hours  of  the 
day. 

This  is  a  rather  silent  bird,  and  its  notes  are  heard  only  when  the 
bird  is  on  or  near  the  nest.  Hewitson  tells  of  being  guided  to  the 
nests  by  the  '"singing"  of  the  parents,  which  he  describes  as 
resembling  the  chatter  of  Swallows. 

The  name  of  Mother  Carey's  Chicken,  thouglu  by  .some  philolo- 
gists to  be  a  corruption  of  J/d/tr  cam,  was  originally  applied 
to  this  species  by  seamen,  but  it  is  now  applied  to  all  the  small 
Petrels. 

Sailors  fancy  that  the  appearr.nce  of  these  birds  is  an  evil  omen 
and  foretells  a  storm,  —  which  is  partly  true,  for  they  revel  in  a 
storm  and  seek  it  The  Petrels  have  no  dread  of  winds  or  waves, 
and  find  their  harvest  amid  the  tumult,  fearlessly  gleaning  their 
food  from  the  curling  seas. 


None.  —  E.xamples  of  several  species  of  Petrel  occasionally 
wander  into  our  waters  from  their  customary  cruising  area.  These 
are  the  lU-.vc  K-(  ai'ITD  Prtkf.i,.  (^-AV/vA/A?  //dsi'/ti/a),  from  the 
tropics;  Pf,ai,i:"s  Pi'.iui.i.  {A'^stre/(7/(j  ^n/tjns).Uom  the  .Antarc- 
tic;  IU'LWi:i<"s  Pi;i  i{i:i,  (Rn/wcn'd  /luli.rri).  from  tlie  eastern  side 
of  the  Atlantic:  WmTi;-iir.M.n:r)  Pi:rKi:i.  {Cymodioi/ht  i^ra//(j>hi), 
from  the  tropics;  \Viiiri:-KAt  i:i)  Pktkki.  {Pe/aj^odrotna  moriiiti), 
from  the  Southern  Ocean. 


i     j 


FULMAR. 

WHITE    HAGDON.     NODnV. 
Fu [-MARIS   ni,ACIAI.lS. 

Char.  Mantle  and  tail  bluish  gray;  wings  dusky;  head,  neck,  and 
'Muler  parts  white;  bill  greenish  yellow;  legs  and  feet  pale  flesh-cnlor. 
Length  about  19  inches.  Xuniernus  examj^les,  supposed  to  be  immature 
birds,  have  the  white  portions  clouded  with  gray,  and  the  mantle  tinged 
with  brown. 

dVcst  A  deep  hollow  scratched  in  the  soil  on  a  grassv  shelf  of  a  clifT; 
sometimes  on  a  bare  rock,  —  usuallv  a  thin  (ushion  (<f  grass  or  moss  ; 
often  the  egg  is  laid  on  the  soil. 

/ii.v  I  ;  white,  witli  a  rough,  chalk-like  surface,  sometimes  with  a  few 
spots  of  reddis-h  brown  ;  average  size  2.90  X  2.00. 

Surrounded  by  an  eternal  winter,  the  Fulmars  dwell  nearly 
at  all  seasons  of  the  year  upon  the  Arctic  seas.  Ilarbinuers 
of  storm  and  danger,  they  choose  the  wiltUst  and  most  deso- 
late of  regions,  where,  congregating  amidst  the  floating  ice,  they 


1:1 


I  I'- 
t  I 


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m 

I 


M 


m\t 


270 


SWIMMERS. 


seek  out  the  resorts  of  the  whale,  on  whose  carcase  and  those 
of  other  cetaceous  animals  they  ofien  make  a  gratifying  feast, 
and  are  well  known  to  the  whale- fishers  who  frequent  these 
hyperboreal  seas.  They  attend  the  ships  in  all  their  progress. 
Kmphatically  birds  of  the  tempest,  these  Petrels  ride  securely 
amidst  its  horrors,  ])rofiting  by  the  agitation  and  tlestruction 
which  it  spreads  around.  Aware  of  the  object  which  the 
whaler  has  in  quest,  they  follow  the  vessel  and  watch  the 
result.  As  soon  as  a  whale  is  moored  to  the  side  of  the  ship 
and  begins  to  be  cut  up,  an  immense  muster  takes  place, 
sometimes  exceeding  a  thousand,  of  these  greedy  birds,  all 
stationed  in  the  rear,  watching  lor  the  morsels  which  are  wafted 
to  leeward.  I'he  peculiar  chuckling  note  b^'  which  they  ex- 
press their  eager  expectation,  their  voracity  when  seizing  on 
the  fat,  and  the  large  pieces  which  they  swallow,  the  envy 
shown  towards  those  who  have  obtained  the  largest  of  these 
morsels,  and  often  the  violent  measures  taken  to  wrest  it  from 
them,  afford  to  the  sailors  curious  and  amusing  spectacles. 
The  surface  of  the  sea  is  sometimes  so  covered  with  them  that 
a  stone  cannot  be  thrown  without  one  being  struck.  When  an 
alarm  is  given,  innumerable  wings  are  instantly  in  motion,  and 
the  birds,  striking  their  feet  against  the  water  to  aid  their 
flight,  cause  a  loud  and  thundering  plash. 

The  Petrel  is  not  uncommon  in  some  of  the  islands  off  the 
north  of  Scotland.  At  St.  Kilda,  one  of  the  Hebrides,  it 
breeds,  and  supplies  the  mhabitants  with  a  vast  quantity  of 
oil,  which  is  used  for  culinary  as  well  as  medicinal  purposes. 
According  to  Pennant,  "  no  bird  is  of  such  use  to  the  islanders 
as  this  ;  it  supplies  oil  for  their  lamps,  down  for  their  beds,  a 
delicacy  for  their  tables,  a  balm  for  their  wounds,  and  a  medi 
cine  for  their  distempers."  He  adds  "  that  it  is  a  certain 
])rognostication  of  the  change  of  winds.  If  it  come  to  land, 
no  west  wind  is  expected  for  some  time,  and  the  contrary 
when  it  returns  and  keei)s  to  sea." 

Its  food  is  chiefly  fish,  particularly  those  that  are  the  most 
fat ;  its  stomach  is  indeed  generally  charged  with  oil,  which  it 
has  the  power  of  ejecting  forcibly  from  the  bill  and  nostrils  as 


LESSliK    lULMAK. 


271 


a  mode  of  defence.  It  attends  the  fishing  ve;-  els  un  the 
banks  of  Newfoundland,  feeding  on  the  liver  ai.  I  offal  of  the 
cod-fish  which  is  thrown  overboard,  and  is  known  to  the  sailors 
by  the  quaint  name  of  John  Down.  It  is  also  taken  by  means 
of  a  hook  baited  in  this  manner  with  the  offal,  and  the  inliab 
itants  of  Baffin's  antl  Hudson's  Hay  are  said  to  salt  them  for 
winter  provision  ;  though  I'ennant,  in  the  "  Arctic  Zoology," 
adds  that  their  flesh  is  rank  and  fetid  in  consetjuence  of  their 
unpleasant  food,  yet  they  are  still  considered  as  no  indifferent 
dish  by  the  hungry  Greenlanders,  and  they  breed  usually  about 
Disco.  Like  the  birds  of  the  preceding  and  nearly  allied 
genus,  they  nest  in  holes  in  the  rocks  in  great  companies 
at  St.  Kilda  about  the  middle  of  June,  laying  but  one  large, 
white,  and  brittle  egg.  The  Fulmar  is  now  and  then,  though 
very  rarely,  seen  on  the  temperate  coasts  of  Furojie  and  the 
United  States.  The  feathers  are  very  close  and  full,  clothetl 
below  with  a  thick  and  fine  down. 

Fulmars  are  common  from  the  Newfoundland  banks  northward, 
and  in  winter  a  few  stragglers  arc  met  with  off  the  New  Fngland 
coast  This  form  is  not  known  to  breed  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
Atlantic. 


LESSER    FrLM.\R. 

WHITE    II.AGDON.     NODDY. 
FlI.MARU.S    (;i.ACI.\I.IS    MINOR. 

Char  Simil.ir  in  coloration  to  i^liu-ialis,  l)iit  smaller.  Length  aver- 
ages about  iS  inches. 

Xist  ami  A.i.'i.'-j  Similar  to  i^/iUialis,  the  eggs  averaging  soniewli.it 
smaller. 

Mr.  Hagerup  thinks  it  probable  that  liiis  is  \.\w  form  that  breeds 
in  numbers  on  the  western  toast  of  (irceniand  north  of  latitude 
69'\  In  winter  a  few  ol  these  l)irds  are  met  with  off  tlie  New 
England  coast. 

The  habits  of  this  varietv  do  not  differ  from  those  of  the  type, 
and  the  two  forms  can  he  separated  only  by  their  size. 


,i:? 


'■!■ 


1^ 


mi 


i 


r-i; 


mi- 


llfli 


fi!! 


,/  ' 


y  ! 


greatp:r  shearwater. 

HAGDON. 
PriFIMS    MAJOR. 

Char.  Mantle  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  edged  with  pale  brown, 
top  of  head  and  na))e  grayish  brown,  paler  on  the  neck  ;  wings  and  tail 
blackish  brown ;  tail-covcrts  broadly  tipped  with  white ;  under  parts 
white,  the  belly  shaded  with  brownish  gray  ;  the  white  feathers  of  the 
neck  separated  abruptly  from  the  dark  feathers  of  the  crown  and  nape; 
bill  brownish  black  ;  legs  and  feet  dull  yellowish  pink,  turning  to  yellow 
in  dried  skins.     Length  about  19  inches. 

JVest  and  Kg(:;s.     U  nknown . 

The  Cinereous  Pnfifin,  or  Wandering  Shearwater,  vi.sits  every 
part  of  the  great  Atlantic  Ocean,  from  the  banks  of  Newfound- 
land to  Senegal  and  the  Cape  of  (iood  Hope.     It  is  also  com- 


GREATER   SHEARWATER. 


273 


mon  in  the  Mediterranean  and  on  the  southern  coasts  of  Spain 
and  Provence,  but  never  proceeds  to  the  Adriatic. 

On  approaching  the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  but  far  west  of 
soundings,  we  see  the  soaring  and  wandering  I,estris,  and  every 
day  the  wild  Shearwaters,  but  more  particularly  in  blowing 
and  squally  weather ;  sometimes  also  in  fine  weather  we  see 
them  throughout  the  day.  Their  course  in  the  air  is  exceetl- 
ingly  swift  and  i)owerful.  With  their  long  wings  outstretched 
and  almost  motionless,  they  sweep  over  the  wild  waves,  fearless 
of  every  danger,  flying  out  in  vast  curves,  watching  at  the  same 
time  intently  for  their  finny  prey.  Like  the  I'etrels,  these 
Shearwaters  are  often  seen  to  trip  upon  the  water  with  ex- 
tended feet  and  open  wings  ;  they  likewise  dive  for  small  fish, 
and  find  an  advantage  in  the  storm,  whose  pelluciil  mountain 
waves  bring  to  view  the  shiny  i)rey  to  more  advantage,  —  the 
birds  are  therefore  often  seen  most  active  at  such  times,  watch- 
ing the  sweeping  billow  as  it  rises  and  foams  along,  harassing 
and  pursuing  their  quarry  with  singular  address,  snatching  it 
from  the  surface,  or  diving  after  it  through  the  waves,  on  which 
they  are  often  seen  to  sit,  mounting  to  the  sky  or  sinking  into 
the  yawning  abyss  of  the  raging  deep. 

The  Greater  Shearwater  probably  breeds  on  the  islands  of  the 
North  Atlantic,  though  no  aiitlientic  account  of  the  nest  and  eggs 
has  been  publislied  Some  eggs  received  from  riiecnland,  and 
supposed  l)y  good  authorities  to  be  of  this  species,  are  descril)ed 
as  white,  and  averaging  about  2.80  X  1.90. 

The  name  Cinereous,  applied  to  this  iiird  by  Nuttall,  is  now 
restricted  to  an  allied  species,  Puffinus  kulilii,  which  breeds  on 
various  islands  in  the  Mediterranean  and  on  the  Azores, 

Our  bird  is  numerous  on  the  .shores  of  Greenland  up  to  about 
latitude  65"^,  and  is  quite  common  off  the  .\ew  England  coasts  dur- 
ing the  winter,  though  usually  far  away  from  the  shore. 

The  fishermen  call  it  the  "  Magdon,"  in  common  with  others  of 
the  genus  and  the  Fulmar. 

In  the  illustration  the  Greater  .Shearwater  is  represented  by  the 
lower  figure ;  the  upper  one  represents  the  Sooty  Sliearwater. 


I 


io  com- 


voi.  n.  —  18 


274 


SWIMMERS. 


!*■ 


CORY'S   SHEARWATKR. 

PUFFINUS    BORKAI.I.S. 

CirAR  Mantle  brownish  gray,  the  feathers  shading  to  paler  at  thr 
tips  ;  crown  anil  nape  brownish  gray,  the  feathers  on  the  nape  tipped  with 
white,  sides  of  head  and  neck  mottled  white  and  gray;  wings  and  tail 
brownish  gray,  darkei  tiian  mantle ,  under  parts  white  ;  bill  yellowish  at 
base,  shading  to  black  towards  the  tip;  legs  and  feet  dull  orange.  Length 
about  21  inches. 

A'lSt  and  £,!,%'s.     Unknown. 

Cory's  Shearwater  was  described  in  1881  by  Mr.  Cliarles  H. 
Cory  from  specimens  taken  off  Capo  Cod  during  October,  1880. 
Since  that  date  a  number  of  examples  have  been  taken  alonjj;  the 
New  England  coast  in  September  and  October,  and  in  the  autumn 
of  1886  an  immense  number  were  seen  off  the  Xantucket  islands. 

Writing  of  this  flight,  Prof.  S.  F.  IJaird  .said  :  "The  Shearwaters 
occurred  in  flocks  of  perhaps  from  fifty  to  two  or  three  huntlred, 
the  bunches  being  generally  found  (luietly  resting  on  the  waters 
and  feeding,  while  swimming,  upon  the  herrings  that  were  so  abund- 
ant in  the  vicinity.  The  birds  were  very  tame,  but  appt  ^ich  to 
them  could  be  best  made  by  a  steam-launch,  which  would  almost 
run  over  them  before  they  would  start  to  fly.  A  do/en  birds  were 
killed  by  the  discharge  of  two  guns  from  a  launch.  About  a  hun- 
dred sjK'cimens  were  secured,  and  thousands  could  easily  have 
been  killed  if  necessary." 

This  species  is  not  known  to  differ  in  its  habits  from  other  mem- 
bers of  the  genus,  and  in  appearance  is  similar  to  /'.  tiiajor,  though 
bor-'alis  is  readily  distinguished  by  its  yellow  bill,  the  paler  tint 
of  the  brown  in  the  upper  parts,  and  by  the  absence  of  a  distinct 
line  of  demarcation  between  the  white  and  dark  feathers  on  the 
neck. 

Mr.  Howard  Saunders,  a  noted  English  authority  on  this  family 
of  birds,  considers  that  P.  borealis  is  identical  with  /'.  kuhlii. 


I 


<    ! 


AL DLllON  S    SlIKAkWATlik. 


275 


soorv  sHi:.\RU.\rKR. 

BLACK    IIA(iI)().\. 

I'liiim's  sikkklandi. 

Char.  Upper  parts  dark  M)i)ty  brown ;  under  parts  |);ili;r  ami  varied 
with  grayihli ;  winj^s  and  tail  dusky  ur  blackish;  bill  aud  legs  dusky. 
Length  about    17   inches. 

A^isf  iiiid  /'^.i,xs.     Unknown. 

The  Hlack  Ilagtloii  of  tlie  fishermen  —  represented  l)y  the  upper 
figure  of  the  illustration  on  pa<;e  272  —  is  a  coninion  l)ir(l  on  the 
North  Athmtic  between  Newfoiindlaiul  and  the  Carolinas  during 
tlie  autumn  and  winter  months,  though  it  appears  to  iiave  escaped 
the  notice  of  Xuttall  and  his  contemporaries. 

This  bird  is  not  known  to  breed  on  our  shores,  nor  lias  any 
breeding-place  of  the  species  been  discovered,  though  it  is  very 
probable  that  its  nesting  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Facitic 
form,  /'.  i^r/st'it.s-,  which  our  bird  very  closely  resembles  in  appear- 
ance, and  with  which  it  may  be  identical,  as  it  is  considered  by 
some  British  authorities. 

Nests  of  ii^riseui  discoverea  in  the  South  Pacific  were  placed  at 
the  end  of  a  burrow,  which  ran  horizontally  three  01  four  feet,  and 
then  turned  to  the  right  or  left.  The  single  egg,  whicii  was  placed 
on  a  rude  cushion  made  of  twigs  and  leaves,  was  of  white  color, 
and  measured  on  the  average  about  2.rx3  X  1.70. 


h 


AUDUI5()\'S   SUKARWATKR. 

Fl'FFIMS    AlltlliONI. 

CliAK.  Upi)er  i)arts  sooty  bl.ick  or  dusky,  darker  on  wings  and  tail; 
under  parts  white ;  i)ill  lead  blue ;  oi..side  of  legs  black,  inside  and  webs 
yellowish.     I.enj^th  about  11  inches. 

AV.iA  In  a  crevice  of  a  rock  or  amid  loose  fr.agments  of  stone,  —  a 
slight  affair  of  loosely  arranged  twigs. 

E^i^^t:;.  I ;  white  (similar  in  apjiearancc  to  oval  eggs  of  the  domestic 
fowl,  but  with  thinner  shell  and  more  highly  polished  surface);  average 
size  about  2.05  X  1.40. 

This  species  breeds  in  large  numbers  on  the  Uermuda  and  Ha- 
hama  Islands  and  southward,  and  is  seen  off  the  shores  of  the 
mainland,  occasionally  wandering  as  far  north  as  Long  Island.     It 


I 

i 


1 


76 


SWIMMERS. 


f 


\,'' 


V. 


if  \ 


is  ;ibundant  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  Atlantic,  and  is  said  to 
breed  on  some  of  the  ishuids  lyinjj  off  the  west  coast  of  Africa. 

It  is  described  as  a  stupid  bird,  olfering  no  resistance  when 
talvcn  from  tiie  nest,  and  as  appearing  da/ed  and  almost  helpless 
when  placed  on  the  land.  The  Hight  of  the  biril  is  strong  and 
graceful,  and  Audubon  says  it  can  dive  and  swim  with  the  ease  of 
a  Duck. 

There  are  conflicting  statements  regarding  the  nocturnal  hal)its  of 
the  species,  some  observers  representing  them  as  feeding  througii 
tlie  day,  wliile  others  tliink  that  during  the  day  these  birds  are  in- 
active and  silent,  resting  upon  the  water,  usually  far  out  from  the 
land,  and  very  rarely  feeding  ;  but  at  night  lliey  are  actively  occu- 
pied in  catching  and  devouring  lish,  and  at  that  time  their  mournful 
cry  is  continually  in  the  air.  There  is  good  reason  for  believing  tiiat 
both  statements  are  correct.  —  that  these  birds  feed  in  the  daytime 
wiien  food  is  abundant,  but  that  they  are  generally  more  active  after 
sunset. 

XoiK.  —  Tlie  Manx  Siikauwatkk  (/-*.  puffinus),  which  breeds 
on  tlie  coast  of  Kngland.  is  credited  with  appearing  occasionally 
near  to  our  coast. 


hir: 


u 


i 


!'■  )   M! 


I'M 


:i^ 


to 


YKLLOW-NOSKI)    ALHATROSS. 

ThALASSOCKRON    CUI.MINAIUS. 

Char.  Mantle  dark  bluish  slate,  shading  to  brownish  on  wings  and 
head;  rump  white;  tail  grayish;  under  parts  white.  Length  alxnit  36 
inches. 

AW.  In  an  exposed  situation  on  an  ocean  island;  a  bulky  structure 
of  coarse  lierbage  and  mud  lined  with  fine  grass  and  feathers.  As  new 
material  is  added  each  succeeding  year,  the  height  is  increased 

Jiffi,"-.  I ;  dull  white,  sparsely  marked  with  purplish  brown  and  laven- 
der; average  size  4.25  X  2.65. 

The  claim  of  thi.s  species  to  recojjnition  here  is  based  upon  the 
capture  of  an  immature  bird  near  tiie  mouth  of  the  river  .St.  Law- 
rence in  18S5.  I  examined  the  skin,  which  is  preserved  in  the 
Museum  of  Laval  University,  at  Quei)ec,  and  was  told  by  tlio 
curator,  Mr.  C.  K.  Dionne,  that  he  purcha.sed  it  from  the  fi.sherman 
who  shot  the  bird.  The  claim  is  sli>j;iit.  but  there  is  no  reason  why 
it  should  be  ignored. 

This  bird  had  wandered  far  away  from  the  usual  habitat  of  the 
species,  for  the  Yellow-nosed  .Mbatross  is  seldom  seen  anywliere 


278 


SWIMMERS. 


I  ■ 


Itiil  in  the  Soutlicrn  Pacific,  a  (cw  examples  only  li.iving  been 
(»l)scr\L(l  as  lar  north  as  tlie  coast  of  Calilornin. 

It  should  l)c  remembered,  however,  that  tliis  entire  family  of 
birds  are  noted  \van<lerers,  -  //u-  most  extensive  wanderers  of  all 
tiiis  wandering  race,  —  and  their  slren;;th  ol  wing  and  power  of 
endurance  render  them  capable  of  any  journey. 

There  is  sometiiini;  truly  suliiime,  as  Ilammerton  has  sui^j^ested, 
in  the  travellinj.' of  these  sea-birds.  ••  Think  of  one  of  these  birds," 
he  writes,  "leaving'  some  barren  rock  in  the  ocean,  and  without  fur- 
ther preparation  tiian  the  unfoldinj;  of  his  mi;;hty  wings,  setting 
forth  on  a  voyage  of  two  or  three  hundred  leagues  I  .  .  .  Nothing 
but  the  natur.d  fori  es  aid  him  ;  he  propels  himself  by  his  own  un. 
wearied  pinions,  .uid  seeks  his  food  in  the  waves  below.  .Self- 
reliance  of  that  iicnuine  kind  is  (piite  bi'\()iid  us.  .  .  .  The  great 
lonely  birds  f//<'  .silf-reliant :  and  wli.il  a  noble  absence  of  fear  is 
needed  for  the  tiaily  habit  of  their  lives  ' "" 


; 


I ; 


ll 


W':  I 


i 


ill     ). 


\v.\N I )r:R I N( ;  a mjaikoss. 

I)i()Mi:i>i;.\  Kxit,.\\.s. 

Ch.\r.  Prevailing  color  yellowisli  wliiti'  ;  t  ill  snijty  black ;  wiiig- 
coverts  more  or  less  varied  with  dusky.  Average  length  about  50  inclics. 
\'oniiL;  birds  arc  uniform  sooty  l)rowM,  and  become  wiiite,  gradually  the 
while  liatliers  increasing  at  I'acli  nmiilt. 

,\('.iv'.  In  an  open  situation  on  an  ocean  island.  —  a  hiilkv  .siructmt'  of 
coarse  herbage  and  mud,  lined  with  tine  grass  and  leathers.  i!y  the 
yearly  adilition  of  Iresli  material  tiie  nest  rises  to  niuuiul-like  jjropor- 
tions,  st)mc  having  been  seen  as  high  as  eight  feet. 

/;\v-  '  ;  white,  the  surface  rough,  sometimes  marked  on  the  larger  end 
with  dull  brown;  average  size  4.<)5  X  Ji-if,- 

I'he  .Albatross  inhabits  the  .Atlantic  as  well  as  the  Pacific, 
and  sonictimcs  wanders  accidentally  to  the  coasts  of  the  cen- 
tral parts  of  the  L'nion.  Vagabond,  except  in  the  short  season 
of  reproduction,  these  birds  are  seen  to  launch  out  into  the 
widest  part  of  the  ocean  ;  and  it  is  probable  that  according  to 
the  seasons,  they  pass  from  one  extremity  of  the  globe  to  the 
other.  Like  the  l-'ulmar,  the  constant  attendant  upon  the 
whale,  the  .Albatross,  no  less  adventurous  and  wandering,  pur- 
sues the  tracks  of  his  finny  i)rey  from  one  hemisphere  into 
another.     When  the  flying-fish  fails,  these  birds  have  recourse  to 


:fe 


WANDLRING   ALUAIKUSS. 


27'J 


the  inexhaustible  supply  uf  molluscous  animals  with  which  the 
milder  seas  abound.  I'hcy  are  nowhi-re  more  abumlaut  than 
olT  the  Cape  of  (lood  IIo]H'.  wIuiv  llu-y  liavr  beiii  seiii  in 
April  anil  May,  sometimes  soaring  in  the  air  tvith  the  gentle 
motion  of  a  kite,  at  a  stupcnd(Mis  height  ;  at  others  neanr  the 
water,  watching  the  motions  of  the  tl)ing-fish.  whieh  they 
seize  as  they  spring  out  of  the  water,  li)  shun  the  jaws  of  the 
larger  fish  whieh  pursue  them.  \'ast  llocks  are  also  si-cn  ro\md 
K.mithchatka  and  the  adjacent  islands,  particularly  the  Kurilcs 
and  Hering's  Island,  about  the  end  of  June.  Their  arriv  il  is 
considered  by  the  natives  of  these  places  as  a  sure  presage  of 
the  presence  of  the  shoals  of  fish  which  they  have  thus  followed 
into  these  remotest  of  seas.  That  want  of  food  impels  them  to 
undertake  these  great  migrations  appears  from  the  lean  condi- 
tion in  which  they  arrive  from  the  South  ;  they  soon,  however, 
become  exceedingly  fat.  I'heir  voracity  and  gluttony  is  almost 
unparalleled,  —  it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  one  swallow  a  salmon 
of  four  or  five  pounds  weight ;  but  as  the  gullet  cann(jt  con- 
tain the  whole  at  once,  part  of  the  tail  end  will  often  remain 
out  of  the  mouth  ;  and  they  become  so  stui)efie(l  by  their 
enormous  meals  as  to  allow  the  natives  to  knock  them  on  the 
head  without  ofTering  any  resistance.  They  are  often  taken 
by  means  of  a  hook  baited  with  a  fish,  though  not  for  the  sake 
of  their  flesh,  which  is  hard  and  imsavory,  but  on  account  of 
their  intestines,  which  the  Kamtschadales  use  as  a  bladder  to 
float  the  buoys  of  their  fishing-nets.  Of  the  bones  they  also 
make  tobacco-pipes,  needle-cases,  and  other  small  implements. 
When  caught,  however,  these  birds  defend  themselves  stoutly 
with  the  bill,  and  utter  a  harsh  and  <lisgusting  cry.  Marly  in 
August  they  (|uit  these  inhospitable  climes  for  the  more  genial 
regions  of  the  South,  into  which  they  penetrate  sometimes  as 
low  as  the  latitude  of  67°. 

In  Patagonia  and  ihe  Falkland  Islands  they  are  known  to 
breed,  but  not  in  the  northern  hemisphere,  to  which  they  prob- 
ably migrate  only  in  quest  of  food.  They  repair  to  this  south- 
ern extremity  of  the  American  continent  about  the  time  they 
leave  the  northern  regions,  being  seen  at  the  close  of  Sep- 


'>i 

I 


28o 


SWIMMERS. 


U 


teniber  and  beginning  of  October  (the  spring  of  this  hemi- 
sphere) associated  to  breed  with  other  birds  of  similar  habits. 
The  nests  are  made  on  the  ground  with  earth  and  sedge,  of 
a  round,  conic  form,  elevated  to  the  height  of  three  feet,  leav- 
ing a  hollow  in  the  summit  for  the  egg,  —  for  the  Albatross 
lays  but  one,  which  is  larger  than  that  of  a  Goose,  white,  with 
(lull  spots  at  the  larger  end  ;  this  is  good  food,  the  white 
never  growing  hard  with  boiling.  While  the  female  is  sitting, 
the  male  is  constantly  on  the  wing,  and  sui)plies  her  with  food. 
During  this  time  the  female  is  so  tame  as  to  allow  herself  to 
be  pushed  off  the  nest  while  her  eggs  are  taken.  But  the 
most  destructive  enemy  of  this  bird  is  the  Hawk,  which  steals 
the  egg  whenever  the  female  removes  from  it.  As  soon  as 
the  young  are  able  to  leave  the  nest,  the  Penguins  take  jkds- 
session  of  it,  and  without  further  preparation  hatch  their  young 
in  turn. 

I'he  Albatross,  though  so  large  a  bird,  suffers  itself  to  be 
teased  and  harassed  while  on  the  wing  by  the  Skua  Gull,  or 
Lestris.  from  which  it  often  alone  finds  means  to  escape  by 
settling  down  into  the  water,  but  never  attempts  resistance. 

A  few  examples  of  this  species  have  been  met  with  off  the  coasts 
of  Florida ;  but  it  has  not  been  seen  elsewhere  near  our  shores 
during  recent  years. 


,.l 


■•  I 


V   '/ 


■^ 


'•©£ 


GRE.Vn:R   SNOW   C.OOSE. 
wavev.    white  brant. 
Chen  hypkrborka  nivalis. 

Char.  Plumage  white  ;  head  washed  with  rufous;  wing-coverts  and 
wings  ashy  gray,  liie  latter  shading  to  black  at  the  ends ,  bill  and  feet 
purplish  red.     Length  about  33  inches. 

In  young  birds  the  upper  parts  are  pale  grav,  the  feathers  of  the  back 
edged  with  white  ;  rump  and  under  parts  white. 

A't'sf.  Usually  on  the  mar>hy  margin  of  a  lake  or  stream,  —  a  loosely 
made  structure  of  coarse  herbage  and  twigs  lined  with  grass  and  feathers. 

^.C^-f-     S~^ '<  creamy  white  :  3.15  X  2.10. 

The  Snow  Goose,  common  to  the  north  of  both  continents, 
breeus,  according  to  Ri(  hanlson,  in  the  l>arren  (Iroimds  of 
Arctic  America  in  great  nimibers,  frequenting  the  sandy  shores 
of  rivers  and  lakes.     These  birds  are  very  watchful,  employing 


i  J  . 


-    (     I. 


1 


'  ill  I 


{ !  ■ 

i 


v3 


282 


SWIMMERS. 


one  of  their  number  usually  as  a  sentinel  to  warn  them  of  any 
approaching  danger.  'l"he  young  lly  about  the  close  of  August, 
and  the  whole  depart  southward  alunit  the  middle  of  Septem- 
ber. Marly  in  November  they  arrive  in  the  river  Delaware, 
and  probably  visit  Newfoundland  and  the  coasts  of  the  Ivastern 
States  in  the  interval,  being  occasionally  seen  in  Massachusetts 
Ikiy.  They  congregate  in  considerable  flocks,  are  extremely 
noisy  and  gabbling,  their  notes  being  shriller  tiian  those  of  the 
Canada  or  ("ommon  Wild  (ioose.  'I'hey  make  but  a  short  stay 
in  the  winter,  proceeding  farther  south  as  the  severity  of  the 
weather  increases.  The  Snow  (ieese  already  l)egin  to  return 
toward.i  the  North  by  the  middle  of  l-'ebruary,  and  until  tlie 
breaking  up  of  the  ice  in  March,  are  fre(]uently  seen  in  flocks 
on  the  shores  of  the  Delaware  and  around  the  head  of  the 
bay.  At  this  time  they  are  observed  to  feed  on  the  roots  of 
the  reeds,  tearing  them  u\)  like  hogs.  In  their  breeding- 
resorts  in  the  fur  countries  they  crop  rushes  and  collect  insects, 
and  in  autumn  principally  berries  for  food,  particularly  those  of 
the  crow-berry.  .\t  this  time  they  are  seldom  seen  on  the 
water,  except  in  the  night  or  when  moulting.  When  well  fed 
the  flesh  is  excellent,  being  far  superior  to  the  Canada  (ioose 
in  juiciness  and  flavor.  It  is  said  the  young  do  not  attain  the 
full  plumage  of  the  old  birds  before  their  fourth  year,  and  until 
that  period  they  ajipear  to  keep  in  separate  flocks.  They  are 
numerous  at  Albany  Fort,  in  the  southern  j^art  of  Hudson  I'ay, 
where  the  old  birds  are  rarely  seen  ;  and,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  adult  birds  in  their  migrations  visit  York  Factory  in  great 
alnm<lance,  but  are  seldom  accompanieil  by  the  young.  They 
make  tlieir  ai^iearance  in  these  remote  countries  in  spring,  a 
few  days  later  than  the  Canada  (ioose,  and  |)ass  in  large  flocks 
both  through  the  interior  and  along  the  coast.  At  this  season 
they  were  also  seen  ])V  Mr.  Sav  in  the  'i'erritorv  of  Missouri  ; 
many  migrating  north,  probal)ly  up  the  great  valley  of  the 
Mississippi. 

The  Snow  Cioosc  is  also  met  with  commonly  on  the  western 
side  of  America,  as  at  Aoonalashka  and  Kamtschatka.  as  well 
as  in  the  estuary  of  the  Oregon,  where  they  were  seen  by  I-ewis 


in 


:i; 


niA'E  c;oosE. 


28- 


and  Clarke.  They  are  very  abundant  in  Sil)eria,  and  the 
natives  often  take  them  in  nets  by  means  of  rude  decoys.  In 
that  fro/en  (.liniate  they  afford  a  great  arf  le  of  subsistence  ; 
each  iamil)  kiliuig  thousan.is  in  a  season,  which  are  laid  np  in 
bulk,  in  holes  in  the  earth,  and  made  use  of  as  occasion 
re(|uires. 

'Hie  breeding  area  of  this  varictv  is  not  known  witli  certainty 
but  It  ijroi)abIy  lies  in  the  llarrcu  Ciround  region  between  (Jreen- 
land  and  the  Mackenzie  River,  tiie  larger  number  of  tiie  birds 
nesting  towards  the  western  limit  of  their  range. 

The  birds  winter  on  the  .Atlantic  shores  of  the  .Southern  States 
and  in  the  West  Indies,  and  go  north  chietly  by  wav  of  the  .Mi.s- 
sis.sippi  valley.  Only  a  few  individuals  are  seen 'on  tJie  New  Eng- 
land and  Canadian  shores.  Immense  flocks  are  met  with  on  tlu' 
(ireat  Plains. 

Note.  — The  Lesser  Snow  Goos'^  {C/icti /ly/yerborea),  the  Western 
form  of  this  s])ecies.  which  breeds  in  Alaska,  is  found  in  winter 
occasionally  in  southern  Illinois. 


RTTT']    COOSK. 

rH.UF.   WAVKV. 
ClIl.V    C.KRn.KSCKNS. 

f'n.\R.  r.nck  .mavish  hnnvii  :  head,  neck,  .iiul  riiinp  wliite  ,  wings 
bluish  n;rav.  sliadin-  to  l)!arlv  ,,n  nuls  ;  tail  duskv  ;  nnticr  parts  white;  hill 
and  feet  piirpli>h  red.      I,eni;tii  about  25  inches. 

Xrst  ami  /:\x-'-     Unknown,  hut  probably  similar  to  the  Snow  (ioosc. 

After  much  contention  and  relei^ation  for  a  time  to  the  "Hvpo- 
thetical  List."  unrlcr  tiie  supposition  tliat  it  was  the  young  of  the 
Snow  (loose,  this  lias  been  admitted  .is  a  valid  species. 

Its  breeding  area  lies  alon-^Miie  shores  of  lludsoii  Hay.  and  its 
winter  home  is  on  the  Culf  coast,  whence  it  migrates  chieliy  along 
the  valley  of  the  Mississij^pi. 

In  habits  the  Blue  Coosc  docs  not  differ  materially  from  its 
allies. 


I  , 


■i  -I 


AMKRIC  AX  WHirK-FROXTED  (lOOSi:. 

LAUGHING    GOOSE. 

AnSKR    AI.r.IKROXS    GA.MHKI.I. 

Char.  Upper  parts  hnnvnish  ash,  the  feathers  paler  on  the  edges; 
forehead  and  rump  white  ;  wings  and  tail  dusky;  under  parts  brownish 
gray,  blotched  with  black;  bill  yellow,  with  white  nail;  legs  and  feet 
orange.     Length  about  30  inches. 

AVsf.  Amid  rank  grass  and  made  of  coarse  herbage  and  lined  with  grass 
and  feathers,  —  sometimes  a  mere  depression  at  the  summit  of  a  grassy 
mound  or  in  the  sand  on  the  bank  of  a  river,  lined  with  feathers  and  down. 

■^.W'f-     5-7;  creamy  white;  3.15  X  2.05. 

The  Wliite-fronted  ( loose  breeds  chiefly  in  the  interior  of  the 
continent  on  tiie  skirts  of  the  forest  portions  of  snlvarctic  regions, 
and  winters  in  Mexico  and  tlie  West  Indies.  During  the  migra- 
tions this  (loose  is  rare  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  but  plentiful  on 
the  plains,  and  quite  common  about  the  dreat  Lakes. 

Numbers  of  this  species  nest  in  Cireenland.  but  tliey  are  said  to 

l)e  of  the    Kuropean   race.  —  true  albifrons.  —  and   thev  proliabiy 

migrate  .southward  by  the  way  of  Iceland  and  the  Iiritish  Isles. 

'he  name  of  Laughing  Goose  is  derived  from  tlie  call,  which  is 

)ud  and  trumpet-like.     It  sounds  something  like  7oah.  loah.  -rcni/i. 

•iui/i,  repeated  rapidly. 


feet 


•h  is 


CANADA    (.OOSE. 

WILD   GOOSE. 
BrAXTA     (  ANADl.NSIS. 

Char.  Mantle  grayish  brown,  the  feathers  with  paler  edge^  ;  head  and 
neck  black,  a  brcxid  white  jiati  h  on  the  throat;  tail  black,  tail-coverts 
white;  under  parts  .uray,  shading  to  white  on  the  under  tail-coverts  ;  bill 
and  legs  black.     Length  about  36  inches. 

Av.rA  In  a  variety  of  situations,  but  usually  on  the  ground  and  made 
of  twigs  and  grass  loosely  laid  and  lined  with  feathers  and  down. 

E.K'KS.     5-7  ;  pale  dull  green  ;  3.50  X  2.50. 

The  Common  Wild  Cioosc  of  .\merica  is  known  familinrly  in 
every  part  of  the  Union  as  a  bird  of  passage  to  and  from  its 
breeding-places  in  the  interior  and  north  of  the  continent.  The 
arrival  of  these  birds  in  the  desolate  fur  cotmtries  of  Hudson 
Bay  is  an.\iotisly  looked  for  and  hailed  with  joy  by  the  abo- 
rigines of  the  woody  and  swam])y  districts  which  they  frequent, 
who  depend  principally  upon  them  for  subsistence  during  the 


286 


SWIMMERS. 


If 


fiiii'!, 

i'       3  I' 


•A'l: 


r' 


.summer.  They  make  their  appearance  at  first  in  flocks  of 
twenty  or  thirty,  which  are  readily  decoyed  within  gunshot  It)- 
the  hunters,  who  set  up  stales,  or  stuffeil  birds,  and  imitate  their 
call.  'I  wo  or  three  are  so  frecjuently  killed  at  a  shot,  in  this 
way,  that  the  usual  i)rice  of  a  Wild  (ioose  is  a  single  charge  of 
ammunition.  'I'his  vernal  flight  of  the  deese  continues  from 
about  the  middle  of  .April  to  the  same  time  in  May  ;  their  ap- 
pearance of  course  coinciding  with  the  thawing  of  the  swamps 
and  marshes,  though  their  usual  food  of  grass  and  berries  is 
accessible  at  most  times  when  not  buried  up  in  the  snow. 
These  fruits  are  often,  inileed,  only  mellowed  by  the  frost,  and 
when  stripped  of  their  wintry  wreath  are  again  ready  for  food, 
as  they  were  in  the  autumn  before  their  disappearance  beneath 
the  snow.  .\t  such  times,  accortling  to  Dr.  Richardson,  the 
Wild  (ioose  makes  an  abundant  repast  of  the  farinaceous  ber- 
ries of  the  silvery  buckthorn  as  well  as  of  other  kinds  which  have 
escaped  destruction.  .After  feeding  in  a  desultory  manner  for 
about  tliree  weeks,  these  birds  retire  from  the  shores  of  Hud- 
son liay,  their  great  rendezvous,  and  tlisperse  in  pairs  through 
tile  ( ounlry  between  the  50th  and  67th  parallels,  to  breeil,  but 
are  seldom  or  never  seen  (jn  the  coasts  of  the  .Arctic  Sea  ;  yet 
Mr.  Audubon  found  them  breeding  on  the  shores  of  Labrador. 
They  lay  six  or  seven  greenish-white  eggs  in  a  coarse  nest 
usually  made  on  the  ground,  but  some  jiairs  occasionally  breed 
on  the  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan,  in  trees,  making  use,  on 
these  occasions,  of  the  deserted  eyries  of  the  Ravens  or  l""ishing 
Hawks,  The  call,  or  /lo///:,  is  imitated  by  a  prolonged  nasal 
pronunciation  of  the  syllable  icoo/^'  frecjuently  repeated. 

Solitude  and  suitable  food  seem  principally  to  influence  the 
Canada  (loose  in  the  selection  of  its  breetling-place  ;  it  is  there- 
fore not  improbable  l)ut  that  many  pairs  pass  the  period  of 
reproduction  in  the  swampy  and  retired  marshes  of  the  (Ireat 
Northwestern  Lakes.  At  any  rate,  in  the  month  of  March 
(i8ro)  many  Wild  (leesc  were  nesting  in  the  shave-rush  bot- 
toms of  the  Missouri  no  farther  u])  than  Fire  Prairie,  consider- 
ably below  the  junction  of  the  river  Platte  ;  so  that  the  breed- 
ing range  of  the  Canada  (ioose  |)robably  extends  through  not 


CANADA   GOOSE. 


287 


Kisal 

the 
erc- 
of 
reat 
irch 

■)Ot- 

ler- 

l^ed- 

not 


less  than  30  degrees  of  latitude.  In  July  it  appe.irs,  after  the 
young  birds  are  hatched,  in  the  fur  countries  ;  the  parents  moult  ; 
and  advantage  being  then  taken  of  their  helplessness,  vast 
numbers  are  killed  in  the  rivers  and  small  lakes  when  thus  dis- 
abled fnjm  llight.  At  such  times,  when  chased  by  a  canoe, 
and  frequently  oblig'.'d  to  dive,  they  soon  become  fatigued,  and 
making  for  the  shore  in  order  to  hide,  are  (juickly  overtaken, 
and  fall  an  easy  prey  to  their  pursuers. 

.\ttached  to  particular  i)laces  of  resort  at  the  period  of 
migration,  the  (leese  in  autumn,  instinctively  advertised  of  the 
ajjproachiug  winter,  and  of  the  famine  which  to  them  neces- 
sarily attenils  in  its  train,  are  again  seen  to  assemble  on  the 
sea-coast,  courting  the  mildness  of  its  temj)erature  ami  its 
open  waters,  which  seem  to  defy  the  access  of  frost.  Tiiey 
thus  continue  to  glean  the  marshes  along  the  shores,  till  the 
increasing  severity  of  the  weather  urges  them  to  a  bolder 
and  more  determined  llight  from  the  threatening  dangers 
of  their  situation.  They  now  in  vast  array  begin  to  have  the 
freezing  shores  of  Hudson  Day.  lake  the  rest  of  their  gab- 
bling and  sagacious  tribe,  at  the  call  of  their  momentarily 
elected  leader  they  ascend  the  skies,  wheeling  round,  as  if  to 
take  a  final  leave  of  their  natal  shores,  and  sensible  to  the 
breeze,  arranged  in  long  converging  lines  (>),they  survey 
their  azure  route,  and  instinctively  follow  the  cheering  i)ath  of 
the  mid-day  sun,  whose  feeble  gleams  alone  offer  them  the 
hope  of  arriving  in  some  more  genial  clime.  'I'he  leader, 
ambitious  of  his  temporary  station,  utters  the  cheering  and 
reiterated  cry  ;  his  loud  but  simple  clarion,  answered  by  the 
yielding  ranks,  dispels  the  gloom  of  solitude  through  which  they 
laboriously  wander  to  uncertain  and  perhaps  hostile  lands.  At 
length  they  come  in  sight  of  the  habitations  of  men.  Suspicious 
of  these  appearances,  they  urge  their  tliglit  higher  and  more 
silently  in  the  air.  Bewildered  by  fogs,  however,  they  often 
descend  so  low  and  hovk  so  loud  as  to  give  sufficient  notice 
of  their  apjiroach  to  the  ambitious  gunner,  who  thus  pours 
destruction  among  the  alarmed  and  confused  llock.  'i'hey  also 
hear,  or  think  they  hear,  a  wandering  companion  lost  from 


288 


SWIMMERS. 


i.  t 


I      ! 


'  ! 

K      ,     ,    . 

i  -Mi 


I 


'i; 


■  ■Ji^^ 


tht'ir  cherished  ranks  ;  they  approach  the  object,  and  it  is  but  a 
domestic  traitor  of  their  species,  or  the  well-imitated  call  of 
the  wily  fowler.  Towards  evening,  desirous  of  relieving  the 
toil  and  hunger  of  his  adventurous  band,  the  intelligent  leader 
reconnoitres  from  his  lofty  station  the  resting-place  of  his 
charge  ;  he  espies  the  reedy  river  or  silent  lake,  whose  grassy 
margins  offer  the  necessary  supply  and  cover  to  their  lodg- 
ment. His  loud  call  now  redoubles  at  the  pleasing  prospect,  and 
they  all  alight,  and  silently  repose  in  darkness  upon  the  still 
water,  liarly  in  the  morning  they  renew  their  wandering 
course,  and  according  to  the  time  and  season,  visit  every  i)art 
of  ihe  Union,  to  the  shores  of  the  Mexican  Cuilf. 

The  autumnal  flight  of  the  Canada  (ieese  to  the  coast  of 
Hudson  Hay,  and  their  residence  there,  continues  for  three 
weeks  or  a  month  previous  to  their  departure  for  the  South, 
which  usually  takes  place  in  September.  Early  in  October 
they  arrive  on  the  coasts  of  the  Ivastern  and  Middle  States. 

The  residents  of  Hudson  Way  depend  greatly  on  iieese  for 
their  supply  of  winter  provision  ;  and  according  to  Hutchins, 
in  fovorable  years  they  kill  three  or  four  thousand,  and  bar- 
rel them  up  for  use.  These  are  obtained  chiefly  by  means 
of  an->buscade  and  decoy,  bough-huts  being  made  by  the 
Indians  in  lines  over  the  marshes  they  frequent  to  feed. 
Mimicking  their  call,  they  are  brought  within  gunshot,  and  the 
deception  is  also  enhanced  by  stales  and  setting  up  the  dead 
birds  on  sticks,  in  living  attitudes.  Thus  in  a  good  flay  a 
single  native  will  kill  as  many  as  two  hundred.  When  the 
frosts  begin,  the  (leese  are  readily  preserved,  with  the  feath- 
ers on,  in  a  frozen  state,  and  thus  afford  a  durable  supply  of 
fresh  provision.  The  feathers  also  constitute  an  article  of 
commerce. 

In  the  shallow  bays  and  marshy  islands  some  Geese  continue 
the  whole  winter  in  New  Jersey  and  the  Southern  States,  through 
which  they  spread  themselves  to  the  very  extremity  of  Florida. 
'I'heir  principal  food  is  the  sedge  roots  and  other  herbage  ;  they 
also  crop  C/Zj'as  and  tender  marine  plants,  and  swallow  quanti- 
ties of  gravel.     'I'hey  swim  with  case  and  elegance,  and  when 


CANADA  GOOSi:. 


289 


ntmue 
rough 
orida. 
;  they 
uanti- 
when 


Uisablc'il  ill  the  wings,  dive  well  ami  becoine  ililticult  Id  cap- 
ture. When  the  shallow  hays  and  jjonds  are  fro/en,  they  seek 
the  mouths  of  inlets  near  the  sea,  in  quest  of  their  fare. 

The  Canada  (loose  is  now  completely  domesticated,  and  is 
as  familiar,  breeds  as  freely,  and  is  in  e\ery  respect  as  valuable 
as  the  common  (Iray  (loose.  Kven  in  IJuffon's  time,  "many 
himdreds  inhabited  the  great  canal  at  Versaille>^,  where  tluy 
bred  familiarly  with  the  Swans  ;  "  and  he  also  adds,  "  There  is 
at  present  a  great  number  on  the  magnificent  pools  that  deco- 
rate the  charming  gardens  of  Chantilly."  The  female,  in  a 
state  of  domesticity,  still  with  instinctive  caution  seeks  out  the 
most  solitary  place  for  her  nest,  not  far  from  the  water.  These 
birds  arc  also  extremely  watchful,  and  the  gander  often  very 
resentful  and  clamorous  against  any  stranger  who  happms  to 
approach  the  place  where  his  consort  is  breeding,  lie  often 
engenders  with  the  (loose  of  the  common  spec  ies,  and  the 
hybriils  are  greatly  esteemed  for  the  sujjeriorily  of  their 
flavor. 

The  natural  desire  of  periodical  migration  is  strongly  ex- 
hibited by  Canada  (leese  while  in  a  state  of  domestication; 
and  thougli  at  all  other  times  reconciled  to  accustomed  and 
voluntary  captivity,  they  are  often  heard  in.-.tincti\ely  to  hail 
the  passing  flocks  as  they  pursue  their  yielding  way  high  in  the 
air.  Individuals  have  been  known  to  leave  the  premises  where 
they  ajjpeared  entirely  domestic,  after  tlie  healing  of  the 
wounds  which  brought  them  into  captivity,  and  they  have  thus 
successfully  mounted  into  the  air  and  joined  some  passing 
party  pursuing  their  way  to  the  North. 

A  Mr.  I'latt,  of  Long  Island,  having  wounded  a  female  Wild 
Goose,  succeeded  in  taming  it,  and  left  it  at  large  with  his 
other  Common  (leese.  Its  wound  healeil,  and  it  soon  became 
familiar  and  rec()nciled  to  its  domestic  condition  :  but  in  the 
following  spiing  it  joined  a  party  of  Canada  (leese  ami  disaj)- 
peared  until  autumn  ;  when  at  length,  out  of  a  passing  flock, 
Mr.  Piatt  observed  three  (leese  detach  themselves  from  their 
companions,  and  after  wheeling  round  several  times,  alight  in 
the  barn-\'ard,  when,  to  his  astonishment,  he  recognized  in  one 
vol .   n.  —  19 


jyo 


SWIMMERS. 


;l 

1 

'   1 

%i 

1 

L| 

1 

•j 

1' 

I 

n 


h 


I- 1 


1 
I 

■'  1 

' 


•Al 


of  the  three  hLs  long-lost  fugitive,  who  had  now  returned, 
accompanied  by  her  offspring,  lu  share  the  hospitality  of  her 
former  acc^uaintance.  However  incit'dible  this  story  may 
appear,  I  have  heard  two  or  three  relations  of  the  same  kind, 
as  well  authenticated  as  any  other  facts  in  natural  history. 
One  of  these  happened  to  a  planter  near  Okrocock  inlet,  in 
North  Carolina,  in  which,  as  in  the  present  instance,  the  female, 
after  being  absent  the  summer,  returned  recruited  with  her 
brood  in  autumn ;  but  the  greedy  farmer,  less  humane  than 
Mr.  I'latt,  having  pn^bably  heard  of  the  old  adage  that  '•  a 
bird  in  the  hand  is  worth  two  in  the  bush,"  made  sure  of  his 
prizes  by  killing  them  without  delay.  It  appears  from  the 
relations  of  travellers,  and  particularly  a  Dr.  Sanchez,  that  in 
the  Cossack  villages  on  the  Don  (in  the  autumn  of  1736),  he 
remarked,  as  he  travelled  along,  a  great  number  of  (leese  in 
the  air,  which  alighted  and  dispersed  through  the  hamlets. 
(Jn  inquiry  he  learned  that  these  birds  came  from  the  remote 
northern  lakes,  ond  that  every  year,  on  the  breaking  up  of  the 
ice,  six  or  seven  pairs  of  (leese  leave  each  hut  of  the  villagtfand 
return  not  until  the  beginning  of  winter ;  that  then  these  flocks 
arrive,  increased  by  their  progeny,  and  each  little  party,  sepa- 
rating from  the  rest,  seek  out  the  houses  where  they  lived 
the  preceding  winter. 

The  Canada  Goose  breeds  sparingly  in  the  northern  portions  of 
the  New  luigland  States  and  in  New  Ikunswick.  it  is  still  a 
common  I)ird,  and  in  some  localities  is  found  in  great  numbers 
while  migrating. 


HUTCHINS   C.OOSE. 

SOUTHERN    GOOSE. 
BR/VNTA    CAN.JiOF.NSIS   HL  rcHIXSII. 

Char.  Similar  to  Canada  Goose  in  plumage,  but  of  smaller  size. 
Length  about  30  inches. 

A'esf.  Usually  on  a  sandy  beach,  —  a  mere  depression  in  the  sand  lined 
vith  grass  and  feathers.  Like  the  Canada  Goose,  this  variety  sometimes 
builds  in  a  tree,  generally  in  the  desertcl  nest  of  a  Hawk  or  Crow,  and 
often  builds  on  the  ground  a  large  nest  of  twigs  and  grass. 

Ei;^,i,'s.     5-8;  pale  creamy  or  whitish  ;  3.J0  X  .:.io. 


IILTCIIINS   GOOSK. 


291 


iveu 


be  IS 


size. 

lined 

times 

and 


On  Captain  Parry's  sccontl  voyage  several  flocks  of  ( leese 
were  seen  on  Melville  Peninsula  which  were  thought  to  be  the 
Ikirnacle,  but  which  the  l']s(|uiniaux  said  were  the  males  of  the 
IJrant  that  during  the  breeiling-season  separated  themselves 
from  the  females.  A  number  of  specimens  were  obtained,  all 
of  which  proveil  to  be  males,  and  Dr.  Richardson  described 
the  species  as  a  vaiiety  of  the  lirant ;  but  from  information 
afterwards  obtained,  he  considered  these  specimens  as  belong 
;ng  to  a  different  ipecies,  hitherto  confoumled  with  the  ./. 
cana</cnsis.  In  Hutlson  Ikiy  these  birds  are  well  known  by 
the  Cree  name  of  Apistiskcesh,  and  are  generally  thought  by 
the  residents  to  be  merely  a  small  kind  of  the  Canada  Goose, 
as  they  have  the  white,  kidney-shaped  patch  on  the  throat, 
which  is  deemeil  peculiar  to  that  species.  Their  habits,  how- 
ever, are  dissimilar,  the  Canada  (Jeese  frequenting  the  fresh- 
water lakes  and  rivers  of  the  interior,  and  feeding  chiefly  on 
herbage  ;  while  the  present  species  are  always  found  on  the 
sea-coast,  feeding  on  marine  plants,  and  the  mollusca  which 
adhere  to  them,  whence  their  flesh  acquires  a  strong  fishy 
taste. 

In  form,  size,  and  general  colors  of  the  plumage,  the  new 
species  more  nearly  resembles  the  Hrant  than  the  Canada 
Goose.  It  differs,  however,  from  the  former  in  having  the  white, 
reniform  patch  on  the  throat  and  cheeks,  in  wanting  the  spottec' 
white  mark  on  the  side  of  the  neck,  in  the  black  color  termi- 
nating four  inches  higher,  instead  of  including  the  swell  of  the 
upper  parts  of  the  back  and  breast,  and  in  the  white  of  the 
vent  being  more  extended.  It  is  totally  unlike  A.  IcHcopsis 
in  plumage,  and  has  a  larger  bill. 

This  species  of  IJarnacle,  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  Hutchins, — 
from  whom  Pennant  and  Latham  derived  most  of  their  in- 
formation respecting  the  birds  of  Hudson  Bay,  —  breeds  in 
consider'^ble  numbers  on  the  shores  and  islands  of  the  Arctic 
Sea,  being  seldom  seen  in  the  interior,  and  keep  near  the  sea- 
coast  in  their  migrations.  They  feed  on  marine  ])lants  and 
mollusca,  as  well  as  on  grass  and  berries,  in  common  with  the 
A.  hemic Ij. 


I, 


iW 


«  ;,^ 


ii 


1 


'i: 


292 


SWIMMERS?. 


Hutt'liins  CfOosc  Is  now  considort'd  .1  variety  of  lanadettsii; 
tliniigh  in  liabi'.s  it  is  quite*  distinct. 

The  present  nut  breeds  in  the  Arctic  re;;ion  and  winters  in  tiic 
Southern  States;  but  on  the  Athmtic  coast  is  now  ratlier  rare  north 
(if  Cape  Ilatteras,  ihoULjli  formerly  it  was  (piite  conniion.  On  the 
prairies  and  west  of  tlie  Kockies  these  birds  are  still  abundant. 


1  • 


1! 

1^1 


■  I    1; 


l:!^i 


)     ;  ■ 

-Ml, 


*    ,  -'1 


NoTl..  —  Th".'  C.\(Ki.iN(.  (ioosi;  {/>.  ntniuh'nsis  niini/na),  a 
smaller  race,  -  lengtii  about  24  inches.  —  which  breeds  in  Alaska 
and  winters  in  California,  is  occasionally  represented  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi valley  l)y  a  few  individuals. 

Another  occasional  visitor  from  the  West  to  this  faunal  province 
is  the  IJl..\(  K  liKAN  r  (/i.  iii^ricivis).  .\  few  exani|)les  of  this 
.species  have  i)een  taken  on  the  .Atlantic  coast. 

Still  another  visitor  of  this  group  is  the  Ii\i<n.\(  i.K  Cioosr. 
(/>'.  /(itcopsis),  a  Murojiean  bird.  This  species  is  said  to  be  a 
regular  visitor  to  South  (ireenland.  and  Keinhardt  tliought  it 
nested  in  the  interior  of  that  country.  It  has  been  seen  also  on 
Hudson   Hay. 


i'' 


1> 


<*--.»'     • 


UKANT. 

lU.ACK  UK  ANT.     ItKANT  (iOOSK. 
HrANTA     I'.KKNICI.A. 

Char  Mantle  blackish  brown,  the  feathers  paler  on  the  edges  ;  head 
and  neck  black,  with  patch  (if  white  on  sides  of  the  throat;  (iiiIIIn  and 
tail  I)iack  ;  tail-coverts  white;  under  parts  grayish  l)rown,  the  feathers 
tipped  with  white;  bill  ami  legs  black.  In  the  winter  the  niantlf  h.is  a 
rufous  tinge,     l-ength  about  2$  inches. 

A'fsf.  On  a  cliff  or  sandy  beach  ;  made  of  grass,  moss,  and  weed-stems 
thickly  lined  with  down. 

/^Ci!'^.  4-6  (usually  4) ;  dull  white  or  creamy  ;  average  size  about  2.S5 
X  i.yo. 

The  I>r;int  i.s  another  of  the  hardy  aquatic  birds  common 
to  the  hyperboreal  regions  of  both  continents.  It  breeds  in 
great  ntmibers  on  the  coasts  ami  islands  of  Hudson  15ay  and 
the  Arctic  Sea,  and  is  rarely  seen  in  the  interior.  In  l",iiro])e 
these  birds  proceed  to  the  most  northern  isK's  of  (Ireenl.ind 
and  to  the  dreary  shores  of  Spit/bergen,  In  winter  they  are 
very  abundant  in  Holland  and  in  Ireland,  as  well  as  in  Shet- 
land, where  they  remain  until  sj)ring.  In  .\nierica,  though  they 
visit  in  the  course  of  their  migrations  most  of  the  Northern 
and   Middle  States,  they  proceed  still  farther  south  to  spend 


294 


SWIMMERS. 


);  M 


I  ■    •■!  ■ 

,  i    i  ! 
i       t 


I'l 


the  winter,  being  seen  on  the  Mississippi  nearly  to  New 
Orleans.  They  retire  from  their  natal  regions  in  the  North  in 
September,  and  early  in  October  are  seen  to  arrive  in  great 
numbers  about  Ipswich,  Cape  Ann,  and  Cape  Cod,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, continuing  to  come  till  the  month  of  November,  and 
generally  ai»pearing  in  greater  numbers  after  the  occurrence  of 
an  eastwardly  storm.  In  hazy  weather  they  also  fly  low,  and 
diverge  into  the  bays  and  inlets.  Many  of  these  wandering 
flocks  pass  on  to  the  South  almost  without  any  delay,  usually 
in  marshalled  and  angular  lines,  but  sometimes  in  a  confused 
gang,  loudly  gabbling  as  they  proceed.  Tiieir  stay  here  is 
commonly  so  short  that  it  is  necessary  to  ambuscade  in  huts  on 
their  route  in  order  to  obtain  them.  The  course  of  their  pas- 
sage is  remarkably  uniform,  and  instead  of  winding  round  the 
bays,  they  cross  over  the  narrow  necks  and  |)eninsulas  of  land 
which  lie  in  their  southern  route,  as  if  in  haste  to  arrive  at 
son.e  particular  destination,  or  dissatisfied  with  the  prospect  of 
fiire.  They  continue  almost  without  interrujjtion  their  inflex- 
ible course  until,  se(biced  by  the  mildness  of  the  climate  or 
the  abundance  of  their  food,  they  seem  inclined  to  take  u]) 
their  permanent  winter  residence  in  the  inlets  of  Long  Island 
and  the  sheltered  bays  of  New  Jersey,  arriving,  according  to 
\\'ilson,  in  Mgg  Harbor  sometimes  as  early  as  the  20th  of 
September,  or  almost  without  the  intermission  of  any  interval, 
l)ut  ♦"or  necessary  food  and  repose,  from  the  time  of  their  leav- 
ing tho  shores  of  Hudson  I'>ay.  The  first  flights,  still  adven- 
turous and  roving,  generally  remain  here  only  a  few  days,  and 
then  jiass  on  still  fartlier  to  the  Soutli.  Flocks  continue,  how- 
ever, to  arrive  from  the  North,  and  many  individuals  remain 
in  the  waters  of  New  Jersey  until  the  severe  weathc"  of  I  )e- 
cembiT  urges  them  to  seek  out  milder  regions.  On  recom- 
mencing their  journey  they  ;..;semble  in  one  great  flight,  making 
an  extensive  s]iiral  sweep  some  miles  in  circuit,  to  reconnoitre 
their  route  ;  when,  rising  at  length  high  in  the  air.  they  steer 
to  the  ocean,  and  continue  tiieir  course  along  the  bays,  or 
even  out  at  sea  for  several  leagues,  till  they  arrive  again  at 
some  new  destination. 


T 


liRANT 


295 


The  IJrant  fecils  usually  on  the  bars  at  low  water,  and  now 
and  then  also  in  the  marshes  ;  its  common  tare  is  the  laver 
and  other  tender  marine  plants,  and  it  now  and  then  also  eats 
small  shell-fish.  In  the  spring  the  okl  birds  are  generally  lean 
and  ill-tlavored  ;  but  in  winter  they  are  justly  estec  ed  as  a 
tlelicacy,  and  sell  at  a  high  j^rice.  IJrant  never  dive,  but  wade 
about  in  quest  of  their  food  at  the  recess  of  the  tide.  At  the 
time  of  high  water  they  swnn  out  at  their  ease  in  the  bay. 
ranged  in  long  lines,  particularly  iluring  the  continuance  of 
calm  weather. 

The  voice  of  the  IJrant  is  hoarse  and  honking,  and  when 
gabbling  in  company,  almost  equals  the  yell  of  a  pack  of 
hounds.  When  pursued,  or  nearly  approached  in  a  state  of 
confinement,  these  birds  hiss  like  Common  (leese.  They  are 
often  quarrelsome  amongst  each  other  and  with  the  Ducks  in 
their  vicinity,  driving  the  latter  off  their  feeding-ground.  'I'hey 
never  dive  in  quest  of  food.  yet.  when  its  wing  is  broken,  the 
Brant  will  go  a  hundred  yards  or  more  at  a  stretch  under  the 
water;  and  it  is  then  very  difficult  to  obtain.  About  the  mid- 
dle of  May  it  reappears  on  its  way  to  the  North,  but  at  this 
time  rarely  stops  long,  unless  driven  in  by  stormy  weather. 

Brant  have  been  found  breeding  very  far  .lortli.— l)eyon(l  latitude 
'^2°.  —and  Hagerup  reports  them  as  migrants  only  along  the  .south- 
ern slioros  of  Greenland  :  I)ut  numbers  al.so  l)reed  probably  on  tlie 
lakes  near  Cumberland  iJay.  and  some  doubtless  go  no  farther  tiian 
the  interior  of  Labrador.  Large  numbers  linger  on  the  northern 
slioro  of  Xova  .Scotia  until  ai)out  the  ist  of  June,  and  then  sail 
away  northward,  gathering  in  one  immense  flock  and  rising  in  the 
air  to  a  great  height. 

Brant  are  generally  written  down  "  marine  birds  :  "  but  Thomp- 
son says  they  occur  rruularly  in  .Ma!iitol)a.  tliough  not  common, 
and  Cones  saw  them  in  vast  numbers  on  the  banks  and  mud-bars 
of  the  Mi.s.souri  River. 


'  t 


.•  'I 


I  Pi 


,  i: 


296  SWIMMERS. 


VVHISTLINC.    SWAN. 

OLOK    COI.LMr.lANLS. 

ClIAR.  Plumage  white;  bill  black,  witli  a  yeilnw  spot  between  the 
eyes  and  nostrils;  legs  blacU.     Length.  :ib()iit  55  inches. 

iVes/,  On  tile  margin  (jf  a  lake  or  on  an  ocean  island,  sometimes  in  a 
marsh  on  a  river  bank,  —  a  large  structure  of  coarse  herbage  lined  witii 
line  grass  or  moss. 

Ex'x'^-  2-7 ;  dull  white,  sometimes  washed  with  a  greenish  or  bullish 
tint ;  the  surface  is  rough;  average  size  about  4.25  X  2.70. 

The  Whistling  Swan  retires  into  the  Arctie  regions  to  pass 
in  in<jre  security  the  period  of  reproduction  during  the  short 
but  brilliant  summers  which  there  i)revail.  In  autumn  it 
migrates  over  both  continents,  and  in  winter  is  soiiietimes 
numerous  in  the  l>ay  of  Chesapeake.  Flocks  are  seen  and 
heard  to  pass  also  through  various  i)arts  of  the  interior  of 
America,  and  they  are  nowhere  more  abundant  at  that  season 
than  in  Missouri,  .Arkansas,  and  Louisiana,  to  which  countries, 
by  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  they  are  seen  to  repair 
in  lofty  and  numerous  flights  to  the  very  close  of  winter,  pro- 
tracting their  stay  sometimes  until  driven  to  move  by  the 
severest  frosts.  In  the  winter  of  i(Sio  I  saw  two  of  these 
graceful  birds  in  a  state  of  domestication  near  St.  Louis  (Mis- 
souri), which  were  obtained  with  several  others  at  the  same 
time,  in  consecpience  of  the  extreme  cold.  The  thermometer 
falling  to  15"  l)elow  zero,  they  were  unable  to  bear  the  cutting 
severity  of  the  weather,  and  fell  disabled,  accompanied  by 
several  Wild  Ducks,  into  an  adjoining  field,  where  a  few  sur- 
vived ami  became  tame. 

Whistling  Swans  arrive  in  Hudson  Iby  about  the  end  of  May 
in  small  flocks,  accomjianied  by  (ieese,  and  i)ro])agate  in  great 
numbers  along  the  shores,  islands,  and  inland  lakes.  'J'hese 
birds,  distinguished  by  their  note  and  inferior  si/e  frcm  the 
following  species,  are  called  //oo/>rrs,  ;in<l  mostlv  frecpient  the 
sea-coast.  Tiie  Cygnets  ;ire  esteemed  a  delicate  dish,  ;nd 
the  full-grown  young  arc  also  excellent  food.     The  ;ibf)rigines 


WHISTLING   SWAN, 


297 


of  the  interior  make  much  use  of  the  down  of  the  Swan  as 
a  matter  of  decoration,  in  wliich  taste  they  have  also  been  very 
successfully  followed   by  civilized   nations.      Among  the    Ice- 
landers, Swans  are  an  object  of  chase  in  the  moulting  season 
which  takes  place  in  August,  after  rearing  their  voung ;  they 
are  pursued    by  dogs  and  on  horse])ack,   the  animals  being 
purposely  trained  to  pass  nimbly  over  bogs  and  marshes.    'I'he 
eggs  in  the  spring,  as  well  as  the  flesh  in  autumn,  are  in  Ice- 
land much  used  as  food,  and  the  feathers  form  an  article  of 
trade.      In   Kamtschatka,  where  Swans  likewise  abound  and 
breed,  they  are  taken  and  used  in  the  same  manner;  their 
food  consists  of  aquatic  plants  and  insects. 

The  Whistling  Swan,  though  commonly  tamed  and  domesti- 
cated in  Russia,  has  not  the  grace  and  elegance  of  the  Mute 
species,  as  instead  of  the   beautiful  curve  of  the  neck  it  swims 
with  it  erect.     Its  vocal  organs  are  also  remarkablv  assisted 
by  the  elaborate  structure  of  the  trachea,  which,  instead  of 
passing  on  direct  to  the  lungs,  as  in  the  Mute  Swan,  fbrms 
two  circumvolutions  within  the  chest,  like  a  trumpet,  before 
terminating  in  the  respiratory  organ ;   and  it  is  thus  enabled 
to  utter  a  powerful  and  sonorous  note,     '{'he  common  'i  ame 
Swan,  on   the  contrary,   is    the    most    silent   of  birds,   being 
unable  to  utter  any  louder  noise  than  a  hiss.     'Ihis  deficiency 
of  voice  is,  however,  amply  made  up  by  beauty  of  form  and 
insinuating  grace.     Its  pure,  spotless,  and  si)lendid  attire  ;   its 
stately  attitude;    the   ease   and    elegance   with   which,   like   a 
bark,  it  sits  and  moves  majestically  on  the  water,  as  if  proud 
and  conscious  of  its  beauty  ;  aiding  its  pompous  jirogress  by 
gently  raising  its  snow-white  wings  to  catch  the  sporti\-e  bree/e, 
wherein  it  wantons  with   luxuriant  ease,  queen  of  its  native 
element,  — in  short,  all  conspires  to  shroud  the  Swan,  however 
mute,  with  its  long  acknowle.Iged  and  classic  perfection.     And 
as  if  aware  of  its  high  anil  ancient  pretensions,  it  still,  as  in 
former  ages,  fre(|uents  the  now  neglected  streams  of  the  Mean- 
der and   the   Stiymon  ;   witii   an   air  of  alTccted   languor  it    is 
yet  seen  silently  sailing  by  the  groves  ,.r  I'aphos,  though  no 
longer  cherished  by  its  I)eauti'ous  (pieen. 


I 


"if- 
SI 

^1 


i 


! ;, 


■.  :);? 


p   t-!i, 


;» 


::Mi::i 


298 


SWIMMERS. 


'J'he  Hooper  emits  its  notes  only  when  flying,  or  calling  on 
its  mate  or  companions ;  the  sound  is  something  like  '7o//<>()i;^/i, 
'7i'/i()({i;^/i,  very  loud  and  shrill,  but  by  no  means  disagreeable 
when  heard  high  in  the  air  and  modulated  by  the  winds.  The 
natives  of  Iceland  indeed  compare  it,  very  flatteringly,  to  the 
notes  of  a  violin.  Allowance  must  be  made,  however,  for  this 
])redilection  when  it  is  remembered  that  they  hear  this  cheer- 
ful clarion  at  the  close  of  a  long  and  gloomy  winter,  and  when, 
in  the  return  of  the  Swan,  they  listen  to  the  harbinger  of  ap- 
proaching summer ;  every  note  must  be,  therefore,  melodious 
which  presages  the  speedy  thaw  and  the  return  of  life  and 
verdure  to  their  gelid  coast. 

It  is  to  this  species  alone  that  the  ancients  could  attribute 
the  i)ower  of  melody,  —  the  singular  faculty  of  tuning  its  dying 
dirge  from  among  the  reedy  marshes  of  its  final  retreat.  In  a 
low,  plaintive,  and  stridulous  voice,  in  the  moment  of  death,  it 
murmured  forth  its  last  proj^hetic  sigh.  'I'hese  doleful  strains 
were  heard  at  the  dawn  of  day  or  when  the  winds  and  waves 
were  still,  and,  like  the  syrinx  of  Pan,  were  in  all  probability 
nothing  more  than  the  murmurs  and  sighs  of  the  wind  through 
the  marshes  and  forests  graced  and  frequented  by  these  ele- 
gant ac^uatic  birds. 

Xuttall  confounded  the  American  bird  with  the  Hoo])cr.  or 
Wliooper,  of  Europe,  also  sometimes  called  the  Whistling  Swan, 
though  they  are  quite  distinct. 

Our  bird  winters  on  the  Atlantic  shore  of  the  Southern  States 
and  breeds  in  the  fur  countries,  but  does  not  migrate  either  way 
along  the  Atlantic  coast,  where  it  is  rarely  seen  north  of  Chesa- 
])eakc  Hay.  Within  tlie  last  few  years  a  few  examples  have  been 
seen  in  New  England,  and  I  examined  in  the  Hesh  one  that  was 
sliot  in  New  Brunswick.  1  think  tlvat  in  former  years  it  must 
have  occurred  more  fre(iuently  in  this  vicinity,  for  tlie  Indians  of 
Maine  and  tlie  Provinces  know  tlie  bird  well,  and  have  a  distinctive 
name  for  it.  The  Indians  say  the  Swan  is  always  found  in  the 
wake  of  a  flock  of  Geese:  tliough  a  small  flock  that  were  seen  on 
the  Charles  River  in  1891  were  apparently  travelling  without  a 
guide. 

l\Ir.  Mcllwraith  rc]iorts  that  in  March,  1S90.  a  flock  of  twenty 
Swans  appeared  on  Lake  Ontario,  near  Hamilton. 


TKUMPEIER    SWAN.  299 

'J'RUMPK'l'KR   SWAN. 

OU)K    liUCCINAlOR. 

Char,     rii.aiage  white :  bill  and  legs  black.     Length  60  to  65  inches. 
A'tst.     Usually  on  dry  iii)land,  hid  amid  scrubby  bushes ;  made  of  grass 
and  twigs  lined  with  feathers  and  down. 

/•-AVf.     2-G\  white  with  a  rough  chalk-like  surface;  average  si/c  4. jo 

X    2.(X). 

-Vccording  to  Richardson,  this  is  the  most  common  Swan  in 
the  interior  of  the  fur  countries,  which  it  frequents  to  breed 
as  far  south  as  the  6ist   j)arallel,  but  ])rincii)ally  within   the 
Arctic  Circle.    In  its  migrations  it  is  generally  seen  to  i)recede 
the  Ceese  by  a  {cw  days.    It  is  to  the  Trumpeter  that  the  bulk 
of  the    Swan-skins    imported    by  the  Hudson  Hay  Company 
belong.     Lawson  remarks  that  tliese  birds  arrive  in  great  tlocks 
in  Carolina  in  autumn,  and  frccjuent  the  rivers  and  fresh  waters, 
retiring  thence   to  breed  in  the  Xorth  as  early  as   February. 
This  species,   remarkable   for  its   loud   clarion,   descends  the 
valley  of  the  Mississippi   in  great  flights  at  the  approach  of 
winter.     Hearne,  who  also  observed  this  Trumpeter,  remarks  : 
"  I  have  heard  them,  in  serene  evenings,  after  sunset,  make  a 
noise   not  very  unlike   that  of  a    I'Vench    horn,   but   entirely 
divested  of  every  note  that  constituted  melody,  and  have  often 
been  sorry  that  it  did  not  forebode  their  death."     The  trachea 
is  well  supplied  with  the  means  of  protlucing  this  hollow  clang, 
a  fold  of  it  entering  a  protuberance  on  the  dorsal  or  interior 
aspect  of  the  sternum  at  its  upper  part,  which  is  wanting  both 
in  Cvirni/sfcn/s  and  C.  hcwickii ;  in  other  respects  the  wind- 
pipe is  distributed  through  the  sternum  nearly  as  in  the  latter 
of  these  species. 

Tlie  Trumpeter  is  a  bird  of  tlic  inttM-jor.  and  is  .seen  but  ocra- 
sionally  to  tlie  eastward  of  the  Mississippi,  aiul  is  rare  on  the 
Atlantic  coast.  A  few  examples  Iiavc  been  seen  on  Lake  Ontario. 
It  breeds  from  Iowa  and  Dakota  northward. 

XoTi:.  — The  Wiioopixf;  Swan  (CMv- ,;i;.v/«.*),  a  European  bird, 
occurs  occasionallv  in  Cireeuland. 


■i;l 


'I 

il 


k:' 


I  i    '■ 


II 


,11! 


SHOVELLER. 

SPOONBILL.     BROADBILL. 

Si'AIlLA   CLYPEATA. 

Char.  Back  brown,  the  feathers  paler  on  the  edges;  shoulders  blue; 
wing-covcrts  wiiitc ;  secondaries  brown  with  a  green  patch;  primaries 
black  ;  rump  and  tail  black ;  head  and  neck  green ;  lower  neck  and 
breast  white ;  belly  rich  chestnut;  vent  white;  under  tail-coverts  black; 
bill  widened  at  the  end  and  of  dark  leaden  blue ;  legs  reddish.  Female 
darker  and  duller;  head  and  neck  mottled  with  two  shades  of  brown; 
under  parts  pale  brown  or  buff.     Length  20  inches. 

.\'i'.«/  On  marshy  margins  of  a  lake  or  stream  ;  made  of  grass  lined 
with  down,  which  the  female  plucks  from  her  body  after  she  begins 
to  sit. 

^.;'s'-  ^>-i4;  pale  greenish  buff,  sometimes  tinged  with  blue;  2.05  X 
I-45- 

The  Shoveller,  remarkable  by  the  broadness  of  its  bill,  is  an 
inhabitant  of  the  northern  parts  of  both  continents  ;  according 
to  Richardson  it  frequents  chiefly  the  clear  lakes  of  the  hy- 
pcrboreal  districts,  selecting  for  a  breeding-place  the  Barren 
(Irounds,  where  it  remains  to  jxass  the  summer,  appearing  in 
numbers  in  the  more  southern  and  woody  country  only  in  the 
spring  and  autumn  when  migrating.     Early  in  October  these 


SHOVELLER. 


301 


birds  visit  the  small  fresh-water  lakes  and  marshes  near  the 
sea  in  Massachusetts,  and  in  the  course  of  the  winter  continue 
south  to  the  extremity  of  the  Union,  penetrating  into  Mexico 
and  along  the  coast  of  the  (Uilf  to  Vera  Cm/.,  and  perhaps  still 
farther,   in   quest   of  subsistence   and   shelter  from   the  cold. 
Soon  after  March,  according  to  Baillon,  they  disperse  through 
the  fens  in  France  to  breed,  and  select  the  same  places  with 
the  Summer  Teal,  choosing,  with  them,  large  tufts  of  rushes, 
making  a  nest  of  withered  grass  in  the  most  boggy  and  diffi- 
cult places  of  access,  near  waters.    The  young,  in  consequence 
of  the  great  disproportion  of  the  bill,  at  that  period,  have  a 
most  uncouth  and  awkward  appearance,  seeming  to  be  op- 
pressed by  its  weight,  and  perpetually  inclined  to  rest  it  upon 
the  breast.     They  run  about  and  swim,  however,  as  soon  as 
hatched,  and  are  carefully  attended  by  the  parent,  who  inces- 
santly guards  them  from  the  surprise  of  ravenous  birds.     ( )n 
these  occasions,  when  the  danger  becomes  unavoidable,  thc> 
young  are  seen  to  scjuat  silently  among  the  grass,  while  the 
old  birds  run  off  and  dive.     The  cry  of  this  species  has  been 
compared  to  that  of  a  rattle  turned  by  small  jerks  in  the  hand. 
The  Shoveller  is  considered  one   of  the   most   tender   and 
delicate-flavored     Ducks,    growing    very    fat    in    winter.       Its 
usual  food  is  said  to  be  small  fish  and  insects,  —  rarely  vege- 
tables and  seeds.     In  a  ])air  of  the  young  which  I  examined, 
that  were  killed  in  Fresh  Pond,  in  this  vicinity,  the  stomach 
contained  many  fragments  of  a  very  delicate  divaricated  small 
green  /w/rus,  minute  AV/;/-/  plucked  uj)  by  the  roots,  also  frag- 
ments of  some  Chara,  with  minute  Xaiica  and  Anoiiiia  shells 
quite  comminuted,  awA  a  i)<)rtion  of  gravel.    Wc  see.  therefore, 
that  the  remarkable  structure  of  the  bill  in  this  species  is  no 
way  generally  indicative  of  any  peculiar  h;i1)it  of  feeding.     The 
labyrinth   in   the   trachea   of  the   male   is  small,  and   its  voice 
probably  proportionately  feeble. 

This  huautiful  bird,  witli  its  strangely  sha])e(l  1)111,  is  but  rarely 
seen  along  tlie  Atlantic  coast  nortli  of  Connecticut,  thougli.  like 
others  of  our  waterfowl,  it  is  WL'Il-known  to  gunmrs  and  sjjorts- 
men  in  more  southern  shooting-  lesorts 


;! 


302 


SWIMMERS. 


|!if 


Ihese  birds  mijjratc  across  the  country  to  the  WcstL-ni  plains, 
where  they  nest,   troni   North    Dakota  and  Manitol)a  nortliward, 


ranging  as  far  as  Alaska. 


LAHRADOR    DUCK. 

I'JEU    UUCK. 
CAMPTOI-AIMIS    l,Al!RAI)t)RlUS. 

Char.  Male  head,  iiccU,  breast,  and  most  of  wings  white;  crown, 
collai  1)1  iieek,  back,  primary  wing-leathers,  tail,  and  under  parts  black; 
bill  orange  at  the  base,  the  terminal  half  black  ;  legs  ami  feet  lead  blue. 
Female  :  brownish  gray,  the  wings  darker,  —  primaries  dusky.  Length 
iS  to  20  inches. 

A'tsi  (ind  £!,Xi-.     Unknown. 

Nuttall  made  but  slight  mention  of  this  species,  sujjposing  it  to 
be  a  straggler  from  the  Pacific.  He  reported  it  as  visiting  the 
.Middle  States  in  winter,  and  stated  that  the  gunners  of  New  Jersey 
and  Pennsylvania  called  it  the  Sand-shoal  Duck.  The  tlesh,  he 
adds,  is  dry  and  unsavory. 

The  majority  of  the  ornithologists  of  the  present  day  believe 
that  the  species  has  become  extinct,  though  some  fortv  years  ago 
it  occurred  regularly  all  along  the  coast  from  Labrador  to  Dela- 
ware, and  nested  in  the  lower  fur  countries. 

The  last  example  known  to  have  been  taken  was  shot  near 
Klmira,  N.  Y..  in  1878.  Previous  to  that  date  one  had  been  taken 
on  Long  Island  in  1874.  and  another  at  Grand  Menan  in  1871. 

.\s  the  bird  was  shy  and  difficult  to  approach,  a  strong  swimmer 
and  of  rapid  flight,  its  extinction  is  a  curious  phenomenon,  and 
unaccountable.  There  are  only  thirty-three  specimens  known  to 
be  preserved  in  the  nuiseums  of  America. 


'^¥  ii 


■i  I 


MALLARD. 


303 


MALLARD. 

WILD    DUCK. 

Anas  hoschas. 

Char.  Male:  head  and  neck  glossy  green,  with  some  purple  rcflec 
tions,  and  followed  by  a  narrow  ring  of  white;  back  brown,  shading  to 
gray  on  the  wings  and  to  black  on  the  ruini);  wing-bar  jjurple,  bordered 
l)y  black  and  white  ;  upper  tail-coverts  black  ;  the  longest  feathers  curling 
upwards  at  the  tips,  rest  of  tail  gray ;  lower  neck  and  breast  rich  chestnut ; 
belly  dull  white,  and  marked  with  fine  waved  lines  of  gray;  bill  greenish' 
yellow;  feet  orange.  Female:  general  plumage  ilark  brown,  varied  with 
buff;  wings  similar  to  the  male.     Length  about  24  inches. 

Nest.  Usually  on  the  ground,  amid  tall  grass  or  under  a  bush,  upon 
a  dry  knoll  near  a  pond  or  stream,  sometimes  in  a  tree,  —  a  loose,  bulky 
structure  of  grass  and  leaves,  lined  with  duwn. 

/-.X.K's-  6-12,  sometimes  16;  greenish  buff  of  various  shades;  average 
size  2.30  X  1.60. 

The  .NLallard,  or  origin;il  of  our  Domestic  I  )ti(k,  like  so  many 
other  species  is  common  to  most  parts  of  the  northern  hemi- 
sphere. As  a  bird  of  passage,  in  spring  and  autumn  it  is  seen 
in  every  part  of  the  United  States,  and  indeed  inhabits  more 
or  less  the  whole  continent,  from  the  (iulf  of  Mexico  to  the 
68th  parallel,  in  the  fur  coimtries  of  the  Canadian  wilderness. 
In  Fuirope  it  is  met  with  everywhere,  and  many  pass  the 
greater  part  of  the  winter  in  the  dreary  climate  of  Creenland. 
Avoiding  the  sea-coast,  it  is  but  rarely  that  the  Milliard  visits 
this  vicinity,  retiring  south  by  an  interior  route. 

These  birds  breed  in  the  inland  woody  districts  of  the  fur 
countries,  and  more  or  less  through  all  the  intermediate  space 
as  far  south  as  Pennsylvania.  They  nest  commonly  on  the 
borders  of  rivers  and  lakes,  sometimes  at  a  considerable  dis- 
tance from  water,  amongst  reeds,  grass,  or  in  fields  and  coi)ses, 
according  to  the  convenience  of  the  locality,  and  occasionally 
even  upon  trees  impending  over  waters.  For  its  nest  it  scrapes 
together  a  small  quantity  of  such  dry  weeds  as  happen  to  he 
contiguous.  At  the  time  of  incubation  the  female  plucks  the 
down  from  her  breast  to  line  the  nest,  and  frequently  covers 
the  eggs  when  she  leaves  them. 


1^ 


If 


!*! 


■      ■   ,  '  !  i     , 

■  t!'' 

304 


SWIMMERS. 


Although  it  is  most  natural  for  all  those  birds  whose  young 
run  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched,  to  deposit  their  eggs  on 
the  ground,  in  the  Mallard  we  have  some  curious  exceptions. 
It  is  asserted  by  a  person  of  veracity  ia  Kngland  that  a 
half-domesticated  Duck  was  known  to  nest  in  a  tower,  where 
she  hatched  her  young,  and  brought  them  down  in  safety  to 
a  piece  of  water  at  a  considerable  distance.  Mr.  Tunstall 
mentions  one  at  ICtchingham,  in  Sussex,  which  was  found 
sitting  upon  nine  eggs,  on  an  oak  twenty-five  feet  from  the 
ground  ;  and  in  another  instance  one  was  known  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  nest  of  a  Hawk  in  a  large  oak.  'i'hough  believed 
to  be  monogamous,  the  fact  is  doublful,  as  during  the  season 
of  incubation  the  Mallards  are  seen  to  congregate  apart  from 
the  Ducks  as  among  other  polygamous  birds.  Tudced,  so  little 
is  the  male  interested  in  the  fate  of  the  brood  he  has  procre- 
ated that  the  female,  as  incubation  advances,  is  assiduous  to 
hide  herself  from  the  company  of  her  indifferent  male  ;  she 
steals  to  her  nest  with  caution,  and  sits  on  her  eggs  with  the 
greatest  pertinacy  and  instinctive  affection.  When  the  yoimg 
are  hatched  in  situations  remote  from  water,  the  parent  is 
seen  to  transport  them  to  it  by  carrying  them  gently  in  her 
bill.  In  the  evening  the  mother  retires  into  the  reeds,  and 
broods  her  young  under  her  wings  for  the  night.  Almost  from 
the  moment  of  hatching,  the  Ducklings  swim  and  dive  with  the 
greatest  address,  employing  themselves  often  in  catching  gnats 
and  other  insects  on  whicli  they  at  first  princi]>ally  feed  :  but 
though  so  alert  and  well  provided  for  their  acpiatic  life,  their 
aerial  progress  is  slow,  as  the  growth  of  their  wings  is  very  tardy, 
these  continuing  short  and  misshapen  for  near  six  weeks,  and 
the  bird  can  scarcely  attempt  to  fly  in  less  than  three  months. 
This  protracted  infancy  necessarily  indicates  the  necessity  of 
pairing  early  in  the  season  ;  and  in  the  milder  parts  of  luirope 
the  males,  jealous  and  quarrelsome  with  each  other,  begin 
towards  the  close  of  February  already  to  address  their  mates. 

Wild  Ducks  at  all  times  show  more  activity  in  the  night 
than  in  the  day.  They  feed,  migrate,  arrive,  and  depart 
chiefiv  in  the  evening  and   in  the  night.      In  the  dusk  the 


MALLARD. 


305 


I  her 

,  and 

from 

1  the 

,ni:its 

hut 

K'ir 

nly, 

111(1 

ths. 

'of 

nn 


rustling  of  their  wings  often  alone  marks  their  progress.  'I'heir 
flight  is  generally  in  the  form  of  a  wedge,  or  two  converging 
lines  (  >  )  ;  and  being  very  cautious,  they  never  alight  imtil 
they  have  wheeled  several  limes  round  the  spot,  us  if  to  survey 
any  lurking  danger  that  may  possibly  threaten.  'I'hey  often 
also  swim  out  at  a  distance  from  the  shore,  and  one  or  more 
of  the  jxirty,  experienced  as  leaders,  usually  watch  for  the 
common  safety,  and  give  instant  alarm  whenever  there  is 
occasion.  1  )uring  the  day  they  thus  roam  at  large  on  the 
lakes,  secluded  pools,  or  broad  rivers  remote  from  the  shores, 
resting  or  sleeping  till  the  approach  of  twilight.  In  a  domestic 
state,  thcnigii  their  habits  are  so  much  changed,  they  are  'ery 
noisy  and  watchful  in  tlie  evening  and  at  dawn,  responding 
their  (]uack  and  cackle  to  the  early  crowing  of  the  cock. 
It  is  at  this  time  that  the  fowler,  secreted  in  his  hut  or  in 
any  other  way,  lies  in  wait  for  their  approach  to  the  lure 
of  his  female  decoys,  and  pours  among  them  his  destructive 
fire. 

It  would  far  exceed  our  limits  to  detail  the  various  arts 
employetl  in  order  to  obtain  this  wily  and  highly  esteemed 
game.  1  )ecoys  of  wood,  carefully  painted  to  imitate  these  and 
other  species,  are  sometimes  very  successful  lures  in  the  morn- 
ing twilight.  'I'he  imitation  ol  lloating  objects,  as  a  boat 
l)ainted  white  amongst  moving  ice,  has  also  sometimes  been 
attended  with  complete  success.  In  India  and  China  the 
natives,  wading  into  the  water  and  concealing  the  head  in 
a  calabash,  steal  u|)on  the  Ducks  imperceptibly,  and  drawing 
them  down  severally  by  the  legs,  fasten  them  t(j  a  girdle,  till 
it  becomes  loaded  with  its  unsuspicious  game. 

In  the  fens  of  Lincolnshire  extensive  and  ingenious  decoys 
are  made  for  this  purpose  in  the  form  of  a  winding  canal  pass- 
ing out  of  the  lake  where  the  Ducks  resort,  and  which  is 
screened  on  one  side  by  a  high  reed-tence.  At  the  bottom 
of  this  artificial  and  converging  sluice,  marched  with  willows, 
a  tunnel  net  is  laid,  into  which  the  birds  are  driven  by  a  dcjg 
trained  for  the  puri)ose  and  sent  out  to  the  Ducks  at  the 
entrance  of  the  inlet ;  they  are  thus,  with  suitable  precaution, 

VOL.    II.   —   20 


:i 


'I 


3o<J 


SWlMMIiUS. 


at  k'ligtli  urj,'t(l  into    the    nt't,  somctiuK^   in   such   i|Uiintities 
that  the  or  six  do/iii  liavi-  \)cvn  taken  out  at  one  tlrilt. 

I'hc  food  of  till.'  Wild  hiuk  is  small  lish,  try,  snails,  atiuatic 
insect",  and  plants,  as  well  as  sectU  and  niii>.l->on>  <i|  ^rain.  In 
the  se\irity  of  winter,  it  llii'  standinj;  waleii  hi'i ouie  Iro/en, 
these  birds  remove  to  runnin;;  ri\ers  and  resort  to  ihe  ed^e  of 
woods  in  (juest  of  acorns  or  oilier  suitable  lood  ;  but  if  the 
fro?>t  continues  for  ei.i^ht  or  ten  days  they  disaitpear,  and  i\o 
not  return  till  the  early  thaws  of  the  sprin^^ 

'I'lie  Mallard  is  a  rare  liird  in  .New  laiL;laiul  and  tiic  rroviiiees, 
but  it  is  (|uite  eoinnmu  in  western  ()ntari()  and  Manitoba,  ami 
elsewhere  throunliuut  Noilii  America,  breedini;  from  abnul  latitude 
47"  northward. 

Xutl. ill's  statement  tiiat  many  dI  ilicse  birds  pass  the  i;reater  part 
of  the  winter  in  Greenland  has  been  (piestionid.  thonuli  liuropean 
natur.ilists  have  been  aware  that  the  Mallards  were  intlueneed  to 
migrate  more  by  tlie  absence  nf  open  water  than  by  chant^e  of 
temperature.  Mr.  Ilai;(rup  has  contirmed  NuttalFs  statement 
latelv  by  reportinj;  that  in  soutii  (ireenland  the  Mallards  "are 
common  the  whole  year  round,  but  nin.,t  numerous  in  winter,  when 
they  keep  in  small  tlocks  along  the  shore.'' 


i!.; 


.'I 


'i  i 


i'  ! 


I    ■  ' 
1 


CADWAIL. 

GRAV    I)L'(  K. 

Anas  sjuiimka. 

CiiAK.  Upper  parts  brnwn,  baned  and  vermirulatcd  witli  white,  giving 
a  general  appearance  of  bniwnisli  gray:  head  and  neek  liglil  t)i()\vn, 
mottled  witii  darker;  wings  brown  and  l)lack,  wing-iiateii  whiti  ;  innip 
l)lack  ;  tail-leatlHrs  l)rown,  edged  witii  |)aler;  lower  neek  and  hreast  dark 
grav ;  belly  white,  with  line  wavy  lines  of  grav ;  bill  lead  blue;  legs  ihill 
orange.  The  female  is  darker  in  color,  the  dark-brown  lints  prevailing 
above,  the  white  below.     Length  abont  21  imhes. 

jVcsf.  Usually  near  the  water,  though  often  some  distance  away,  pi. iced 
under  a  bush  or  amid  a  tussoi  k  of  rank  iierbage  ;  matle  of  grass  and  lined 
with  Ceatliers,  —  sometimes  a  mere  dei)ression  in  the  soil,  lined  with 
feathers. 

Ei^'X'i.     S-13;  jiale  i)uff,  tinged  with  green  wlien  fresli ;  2.10  X  1.50. 

'I'he  CJadwall  inliahits  the  northern  rcLjioiis  of  l)oth  conti- 
nents, but  does  not  in  .\nierica,  arrordini,^  to  Richardson, 
proceed  farther  than  the  6.Stli  parallel,  and  in  luirope  it  seems 
not  to  advance  higher  than  Sweden.  In  the  Russian  i;ni[)ire 
it  extends  over  most  of  the  latitudes  of  the  European  and 
Siberian  part,  except  the  east  of  the  latter  and  Kamtschatka. 
In  migrations  it  passes  chietly  into  the  warmer  parts  of  ICtirope, 
being  very   rare   in  Ijigland,  but  common  on  the  coasts  of 


li 


T 


til 


I 


''I 


tri:Mi 


:'f 


308 


SWIMMERS. 


France,  Italy,  and  Sardinia.  In  the  United  States  it  appears 
to  be  generally  rare.  A  few  of  the  young  birds  are  seen  in 
this  vicinity,  and  Wilson  met  with  it  in  the  interior  on  Seneca 
Lake  in  ()ctoi)er,  and  in  February  at  Louisville  on  the  Ohio, 
and  near  the  Big  Hone  Lick,  in  Kentucky. 

The  (iadwall  breeds  in  the  woody  districts  of  the  remote 
northern  fur  countries  of  Canada,  in  the  North  of  ICurope  it 
inhabits  the  vast  rushy  marshes,  and  in  Holland,  where  it  is 
common,  associates  in  the  same  places  with  the  Wild  Duck,  or 
Mallard.  These  birds  are  very  much  esteemetl  as  game,  are 
very  alert  at  diving  and  swimming,  and  plunging  at  the  Hash 
of  the  gun,  are  obtained  with  difficulty.  They  are  very  timor- 
ous, lurking  in  the  marshes  by  day,  feeding  only  in  the  twilight 
of  the  morning  and  evening,  and  often  till  some  time  after 
nightfall ;  they  are  then  heard  tlying  in  company  with  the 
Whistlers,  and,  like  these,  obey  the  call  of  the  Decoy  Ducks. 
Their  cry  much  resembles  that  of  the  common  Wild  Duck  ; 
nor  is  it  more  raucous  or  louder,  though  Gesner  seems  to  have 
meant  to  characterize  its  note  by  applying  the  epithet  strepcra, 
which  has  been  adopted  by  succeeding  ornithologists.  The 
food  of  this  bird  consists  of  small  fish,  shelly  mollusca,  insects, 
and  aquatic  plants. 

TIio  Gadwall  breeds  from  tlic  Middle  States  to  the  lower  fur 
countries.  It  is  rather  rare  to  the  eastward  of  the  Mississippi 
valley,  l)Ut  in  that  region  it  is  abundant  north  to  the  Saskatchewan. 

This  is  a  freshwater  Duck,  and  its  favorite  resort  is  the  marshy 
margin  of  a  retired  lake  or  stream,  where  it  dozes  through  the 
hours  of  tlie  day.  and  at  night  feeds  among  the  tangled  rushes. 
It  is  a  sliy  bird  and  wary,  but  sociable  with  its  kind,  and  may  be 
found  in  comjjany  witli  other  wild  fowl.  It  swims  light  and  buoy- 
antly, but  never  dives  unless  wounded,  and  its  tiiglu  is  strong  and 
swift. 


^t^  ..m,  :iii 


PINTAIL. 

GRAY    DUCK.      SI'RIGT.ML. 
1  ).\FII.\   ACUIA. 

Char.  Male :  back  and  flanks  mottlotl  ,L;iay ;  head  and  neck  brown, 
shading  to  l)hiL'k  on  tlie  napo  ;  win^-coverts  hiitf :  winn-patili,  or  "  specu- 
lum," green,  margined  with  black  and  white:  tail  black,  the  two  central 
feathers  much  elongated;  under  ])arts  white.  —  a  line  from  the  breast  ex- 
tending u|i  the  sides  of  the  neck:  bill  and  legs  slate  grav.  Length  26  to 
30  inches.  I'eniale :  upper  i);uts  nintlled  gr;>v  and  brown.  ;\nd  lower 
parts  gray  and  white;  wing  as  in  male,  but  of  duller  lints;  tail  with 
oblicpie  bars.     Length  21  to  23  inclus. 

.AV.f/.  Usually  at  considerable  distance  from  the  water,  but  often  very 
near ;  always  amid  a  tuft  of  t;dl  grass,  in  a  dry  s|)ot,  —  ;i  deep,  bowl-like 
structure  of  sedges,  an<l  lined  witii  grass  ;ind  down 

•^vV-f-     "-'O;  pale  butli->li  green  :  aver;ige  size  about  2.10  X   1.50. 

This  elegant  species  is  an  inhal)it;iiit  of  the  northern  |);irts  of 
both  continents.  leaviiiLi:  its  remote  natal  regions  as  the  winter 
advances,  when  it  i^  seen  pretty  freiinently  in  the  markets  of 
the  United  States,  and  is  a  game  miu  h  esti'emi'd  lor  the  e.\- 
cellence  of  its  flavor.  According  to  Rii  iiardson,  tliese  l)irds  fre- 
quent chiefly  the  cle;ir  l;ikes,  ;iiid  breed  in  tiie  Barren  (Irounds, 


310 


SWIMMIiRH. 


'M 


appearing  in  tlie  more  southern  and  wooded  districts  when 
about  to  migrate,  at  which  period  they  proceed  even  beyond 
the  hmits  of  the  I'nited  States,  being  noticed  by  Hernandez  in 
Mexico.  In  Murope  they  are  said  to  retire  to  the  marshes  of 
the  NN'hite  Sea  to  breed.  In  Missouri  and  some  of  the  other 
Western  States  they  are  abundant  early  in  March,  and  frequent 
the  small  pools  and  ponds  in  the  prairies  ;  at  the  same  time 
they  are  likewise  seen  on  their  way  north  on  the  shores  of  the 
Delaware. 

The  Pintail  is  shy  and  cautious,  feeding  on  the  mud-flats 
and  shallow  freshwater  marshes,  ])ut  rarely  taking  to  the  sea- 
coa^a.  It  seldom  dives,  is  very  noisy  and  chattering,  uttering 
a  quack  like  the  Common  Duck,  and  plimges  and  hides  with 
great  dexterity  when  wounded.  It  is  also  troublesomely  vigi- 
lant in  giving  alarm  on  the  approach  of  the  gunner. 

'I'he  food  iind  nest  of  this  s])Lcies  are  very  similar  to  those 
of  the  precetling.  1  have  fouml  the  stomach  in  one  instance 
nearly  filled  with  the  seeds  of  the  Zostcra.  A  female  Pintail 
bretl  in  confinement,  when  paired  with  a  Widgeon  in  Lord 
Stanley's  menagerie  in  Knowsley,  sat  so  closely  upon  her  eggs 
towards  the  close  of  the  period  of  incubation  as  to  allow 
herself  to  be  taken  off  the  nest  by  han<l  without  forsaking  her 
hatching,  and  a  brood  of  these  hybrids  was  successfully 
reared. 

The  Pintail  is  abundant  in  the  intL'rior.  breeding  along  the 
northern  l)order  of  the  United  States  and  in  Manitoba,  and  thence 
to  the  .Arctic  Circle.  It  is  rather  rare  on  tlie  .Atlantic  coast,  where 
it  appears  in  autumn  and  wiiUer  cliietly. 


If 


BALDP.Vl'K. 

WIDGEON. 
AXAS    AMl'.RICAXA. 

Char.  Mantle  hiownisli  ,c;iay,  vaiitd  witli  fine  waved  lines  of  black; 
head  anil  neck  gia\  i>h  whiti.',  with  dark  siiots,  —  the  crown  with  lew  or  no 
spots:  a  green  patch  on  the  sides  ot  the  iiead  behind  the  eyes  ;  wing- 
palih  green,  bordered  with  black;  tail  gravish  brown;  breast  mottled 
reddish  brown;  bellv  white,  Iiill  and  legs  gravish  blue.  Length  19 
inches.  The  female  has  a  ilai  k-brown  l);ick  ;  head  and  neck  vcllowish 
wliite,  spotted  with  black. 

A',:^/.  L'luler  a  hush  on  upland,  or  on  a  drv  knoll  in  a  marsh  ;  made  of 
weeil-stcms,  grass,  and  leaves,  —  sometimes  a  mere  depression  amid  dead 
leaves,  —  lined  with  down. 

AvV-*'     7~'-;  ivory  white;  average  size  2.20  X  1.50. 

This  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  iMiropean  Widgeon,  has 
not  been  found  in  the  old  continent  ;  yet  it  retires  north  to 
breed,  inhabiting  in  stniinier  the  woody  distri<ts  of  the  remote 
fur  (onntries  near  the  Saskatchewan  and  the  coasts  of  Hudson 
Bay  ;is  f;)r  as  the  6Sth  (leL,^rei'  ol  northern  latitude.  In  aiitmnn 
and  winter  these  birds  ;ire  coininon  in  ni-arly  ;ill  p;irts  of  the 
Union,  many  winterini;   in   North  and  South  Carolina  in  the 


i 


iff' 


II 


312 


SWIMMERS. 


iH    • 


\"\: 


W^  \ 


f  h 


open  rivers  and  bays,  sometimes  considerably  inland.  Indeed, 
I  have  never  seen  them  anywhere  so  nmiierous  as  in  the 
Neuse  River,  round  Newbern,  forty  miles  from  the  ocean, 
where,  in  company  with  the  Canvas-back  and  Buffle-head, 
they  are  seen  constantly  in  l*'ebruary  and  March.  They  are 
also  numerous  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  in  the  course  of  the 
winter  extend  their  migrations  as  far  as  St.  I  )omingo  and  other 
of  the  West  India  Islands,  as  well  as  into  Cayenne  in  the  trop- 
ical parts  of  the  continent. 

The  Widgeon,  or  Baldpate,  is  a  frequent  attendant  on  the 
Canvas-back,  and  often  profits  by  this  association.  The  for- 
mer, not  being  commonly  in  the  habit  of  diving  for  subsistence, 
or  merely  fn^ii  caprice,  watches  the  motions  of  its  industrious 
neighbor,  and  as  soon  as  the  Canvas-back  rises  with  the  favorite 
root  on  which  they  both  greedily  feed,  the  Baldpate  snatches 
the  morsel  and  makes  off  with  his  booty.  These  birds  are 
always  very  alert  and  lively,  feeding  and  swimming  out  into 
the  ponds  and  rivers  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  but  are  extremely 
watchful,  sheltering  in  coves  and  behind  the  land,  and  on  the 
slightest  attempt  to  steal  u]K)n  them,  immediately  row  out  into 
the  stream  beyond  gunshot,  and  then  only  take  to  wing  when 
much  disturbed.  In  C'arolina  and  the  West  Indies  they  fre- 
quent the  rice-fields  in  flocks,  and  in  Martinico  are  said  to 
do  considerable  damage  to  the  crops.  When  thus  feeding  in 
company  they  have  a  sort  of  sentinel  on  the  watch.  At  times 
they  keep  in  covert  mitil  twilight,  and  are  then  traced  by  their 
low,  guttural,  and  pe<ndiar  whistle,  or  '7('/i('70,  '7ohcw,  as  well  as 
other  calls  ;  and  their  whistle  is  fre(|uently  imitated  with  success 
to  entice  them  within  gunshot.  They  feed  much  in  the  win- 
ter upon  aquatic  vegetables,  cropjiing  the  i)ond-weed  as  well  as 
other  kinds  of  freshwater  i)lants  and  seeds,  and  sometimes 
dive  and  collect  the  roots  and  leaves  of  the  sea-wrack. 

Although  generally  distributed  tlirou.iihout  North  America,  the 
Baldpate  rarely  appears  on  the  Atlantic  coast  excepting  in  winter, 
when  it  is  found  on  tiie  shores  of  tlie  Southern  States,  it  is  a 
"tolerably  common  summer  resident  "  <if  Manitol^a,  writes  Ernest 
Thompson,  and  the  bird  is  well  known  in  Ontario. 


./Mi* 


as 

CSS 

li- 
as 
lies 

he 

er, 

a 


WIDOKON. 
Anas  pknf.lope. 

Char.  Adult  male :  mantle  white,  marked  with  fine  lines  of  dark 
gray;  shoulders  white,  followed  by  bar  of  black;  wing-])atcli  green; 
longer  wing-feathers  and  tail  dark  brown  ;  head  and  neck  chestnut,  shad- 
ing to  buff  on  the  forehead  and  to  black  on  the  tliroat ;  breast  gray,  tinged 
with  rufous  and  shading  to  white  below,  which  extends  across  the  belly; 
sides  marked  with  fine  lines  of  dark  gray;  under  tail-coverts  black;  bill 
slate  blue,  tii)ped  with  black  ;  legs  and  feet  dusky  lead  color.  Soon  after 
the  mating  season  the  male  assumes  ])luniage  similar  to  the  female. 
Female:  ujiper  parts  grayish  brown, —  the  featln  is  with  paler  margins  ; 
under  i)arts  white,  the  breast  l)uffish  brown  ;  under  tail-coverts  barred 
with  brown;  wing-patch  grayish  brown.     Length  iS  inches. 

A^es/.  Concealed  amid  rank  herbage  or  under  a  bush,  on  the  margin  of 
a  lake  ;  a  deep  bowl  made  r^f  sedges  and  lined  with  grass  and  down. 

E^i^X^.  7-12  (usually  about  10)  ;  rich  cream  color  or  buff;  average  size 
2.20  X   1.50. 

Though  jjenerally  set  down  in  the  books  as  a  bird  of  the  Old 
World,  the  Widgeon  has  l)een  known  to  occur  on  this  western 
shore  of  the  Atlantic  much  too  often  to  be  omitted  from  tlie  pres- 
ent connection.  The  bird  l)rceds  on  Iceland,  and  prohahlv  occurs 
regularly  in  Greenland,  though  in  small  numbers  :  and  every  year 


314 


SWIMMERS. 


'flitM 


ii  J'. 


more  or  less  examples  are  seen  along  our  coast  from  Nova  Scotia 
to  \'irginia. 

The  nest  has  not  been  found  within  our  borders,  and  it  is  not 
probable  that  any  nests  have  been  built  liere.  The  breeding  area 
lies  north  of  the  Arctic  Circle. 

The  Widgeon  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  and  best-known  of 
the  Ducks  tliat  migrate  through  the  British  Islands,  where  it  ap- 
pears in  flocks  of  enormous  .^ize,  covering  like  a  cloud  the  mud- 
flats of  the  sea-shore  when  the  tide  is  out,  or  settling  upon  any 
large  sheet  of  inland  water  adjacent  to  the  sea ;  for  these  birds 
feed  on  the  buds  and  seeds  of  aquatic  plants  as  well  as  on  marine 
insects  and  mullusks. 

The  call  of  the  male  Widgeon  is  a  shrill-whistled  whee-you,  or 
mee-yu,  —  the  first  note  loud  and  prolonged.  The  female  utters  a 
low,  purring  note,  like  kir-r-r.  When  flushed,  both  male  and  female 
rise  in  silence. 

The  Widgeon  is  not  easily  shot.  It  is  extremely  shy  and  difficult 
to  approach,  and  its  flight  is  rapid. 


':■:  r 


:l 


BLACK  DUCK. 


3IS 


BLACK  DUCK. 

DUSKY   DUCK.     DUSKV    M.VLLARD. 
A\AS    01i.SCL"l<.-\. 

Char  Ceneral  plumage  blackish  brown,  paler  on  under  parts  ;  head 
and  neck  bghter ;  w.ng-patch  purplish  green,  bordered  with  b  ack  :  lin  g 
of  wn,gs  wh.te  ;  b.ll  greenish  yellow  ;  legs  red.    Length  about  33  inch" 

Aes,.  On  the  ground  in  a  wet  meadow  or  n.arshv  border  of  lake  or 
s  ream,  -  son.etimes  under  a  bush  or  amid  rushes ;  a  large  but  well-made 
structure  of  grass  and  weed-stems  lined  with  feathers 

£^s.     6-12  (usually  about  S)  ;  pale  buff  or  buffish  green  ;  2.40  X  1.70. 

This  species  seems  to  be  an  exclusive  inhabitant  of  America 
bemg  met  with  from  Labrador  to  Florida,  but  is  not  found  in 
the  higher  boreal  regions  of  the  continent.  It  is  generally 
known  by  the  improper  name  of  the  -  Black  Duck,"  thou-h  it 
IS  merely  dusky,  and  both  sexes,  nearly  alike  in  i.hnnage,  hn-e 
a  great  resemblance  to  the  female  of  the  Common  Mallard  It 
is  a  numerous  and  common  s])ecies  in  the  .salt-marshes,  as  well 
as  freshwater  rivers  and  lakes.  It  is  only  partially  migratory 
many  birds  often  wintering  in  the  Middle  and  Southern  Sfites' 
where  they  also  i)ass  the  summer  and  breed  from  the  Carolinas 
to  Labrador  in  retired  places  in  the  freshwater  marshes,  or  in 
the  sea  islands,  making  a  nest  of  rank  weeds. 

l^Liny  of  these  birds  migrate  north  as  well  as  into  the  inte- 
rior at  the  approach  of  si)ring.    Their  principal  food  in  autumn 
and  winter  apj)ears  to  consist  of  minute  shell-fish,  particularly 
those  univalves    which    are  so  abundant  in  the  salt-marshes 
They  also  at  times  in  great  numbers  visit  the  sandy  beach  in 
quest  of  small  bivalves  and  other  shellv  mollusca,  and  occa- 
sionally feed  on  seeds  of  aquatic  and  bog  plants,  such  as  those 
of  the  Sr/u'uf,,na  ,-  and,  as  usual,  swallow  gravel  with  the  rest  of 
their  fare.    They  roost  in  the  shallow  ponds  and  islands,  where 
many  are  caught  by  the  minx  and  fox,  and  are  extremely  shy 
during  the  day,  being  at  that  time  very  seldom  seen,  except 
when  surprise.1  in  their  retreats  or  alarme.l  bv  the  report  of  the 
gun,  when  they  often  rise  from  the  marsh  in  great  numbers  and 


m 


.<* 


I 

i 


t 


F 


i^^ 


316 


SWIMMERS. 


disperse  confusedly  in  every  direction.  In  calm  weather  they 
fly  high ;  but  when  the  wind  blows  hard  they  proceed  within 
gunshot  over  the  salt  meadows,  and  may  then  be  brought 
down  in  great  numbers  by  the  concealed  gunner  as  they  pro- 
ceed over  their  usual  track.  Their  voice  or  quack  resembles 
that  of  the  common  ^\'ild  Duck,  and  their  flesh  when  well  fed, 
notwithstanding  the  nature  of  their  food,  is  scarcely  inferior  to 
that  of  any  other  species. 

The  Black  Duck  is  found  throughout  this  Eastern  Province, 
north  to  Lul)rador  and  the  Hudson  liay  region,  breeding  south  to 
New  England. 


Note.  —  The  PYorida  Duck  (.hitis  /u/7'/j;u/(i)  is  a  Southern 
race  of  the  Black  Duck,  though  it  has  l)een  given  specific  rank 
within  recent  years.  The  plumage  is  similar  to  that  of  obscitra^ 
though  fulvii^n/a  is  varied  somewhat  with  buff;  the  cheeks  and 
throat  plain  buff;  wing-patch  bluish  green.  It  ranges  through  the 
Gulf  States  and  west  to  Kansas. 


'iiill! 


f.l-.;tl!.:, 


;:i;iiii   i 


I   M 


r 


1  . 


i 

i 


WOOD    DUCK. 

SUMMER    DUCK. 
A IX   SPONSA. 

Char.  Upper  parts  dark  brown,  varied  with  black;  head  and  crest 
metallic  green  and  purple;  lines  of  white  above  and  behind  the  eyes; 
throat  white;  breast  chestnut,  with  spots  of  white;  under  parts  white, 
flanks  with  fine  waved  lines  of  black  ;  black  and  white  crescents  in  front 
of  shoulder  ;  wings  glossed  with  jiurple  and  green,  and  tipped  with  white; 
bill  red,  black,  and  white  ;  legs  yellow.  Fcm;ile  mostly  grayish  brown, 
and  di'ller  than  the  male  ;  throat  and  patch  around  the  eye  white.  Length 
17  to  19  inches. 

A^est.     In  a  hollow  tree  ;  made  of  twigs  and  grass  lined  with  down. 

Eggs.     8-14;  pale  buff  or  creamy  ;  average  size  2.10  X  160. 

This  most  beautiful  of  Ducks  seems  to  be  dressefl  in  a' 
studied  attire,  to  which  the  addition  of  a  flowing  crest  adds  a 
finish  of  peculiar  elegance  ;  and  hence  Linnaeus  has  dignified 
the  species  with  the  title  of  sponsti,  or  the  bride.  This  splen- 
did bird  is  peculiar  to  America,  but  extends  its  residence  from 
the  cold  regions  of  Hudson  Bay,  in  the  54th  parallel,  to  Mexico 


4 


\^ 


1 1 


I  1 


ill 


11      ; 


i8 


SWIMMERS. 


and  the  Antilles,  'riiroughoiil  a  great  part  of  this  vast  space, 
or  at  least  as  Axr  south  as  l-'lorida  and  the  Mississippi  Tcrri- 
tory,  the  Summer  Duck  is  known  to  breed.  In  the  interior  it 
is  also  found  in  the  State  of  Missouri  and  along  the  wcjody 
borders  and  still  streams  which  flow  into  most  of  the  (Ireat 
Northwestern  l,akes  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  'I'he  .Summer  J  )uck  — 
so  called  from  its  constant  residence  in  the  United  States  —  has 
indeed  but  little  preililection  ior  the  sea-coast,  its  favorite 
haunts  being  the  solitary,  deep,  and  still  waters,  ponds,  woody 
lakes,  and  the  mill-dams  in  the  interior,  making  its  nest  often 
in  decayed  and  hollow  trees  impending  over  the  water. 

'I'hough  many  migrate  probably  to  the  shores  of  the  Mexi- 
can (iulf,  numbers  pass  the  winter  in  the  States  south  of  Vir- 
ginia. I'.arly  in  February  they  are  seen  associated  by  pairs  on 
the  inundated  banks  of  the  Alabama,  and  are  frequent  at  the 
same  season  in  the  waters  of  West  Florida.  In  I'ennsylvania 
they  usually  nest  late  in  April  or  early  in  May,  choosing  the 
hollow  of  some  broken  or  decayed  tree,  and  sometimes  even 
constructing  a  rude  nest  of  sticks  in  the  forks  of  branches. 
The  eggs  are  yellowish  white,  rather  less  than  those  of  the 
Domestic  Hen,  and  they  are  usually  covered  with  down,  prob- 
ably ])lucked  from  the  breast  of  the  parent.  The  same  tree  is 
sometimes  occupied  by  the  same  pair  for  several  successive 
years  in  the  breeding-season.  The  young,  when  hatched,  are 
carried  down  in  the  bill  of  the  female,  and  afterwards  con- 
ducted by  her  to  the  nearest  water.  To  these  places,  when 
once  selected,  if  not  disturbed,  they  sometimes  show  a  strong 
predilection,  and  are  not  easily  induced  to  forsake  the  prem- 
ises, however  invaded  by  noise  and  bustle.  While  the  female 
is  sitting,  the  male  is  usually  perched  on  some  adjoining  limb 
of  the  same  tree,  keeping  watch  for  their  common  safety.  The 
species  is  scarcely  ever  gregarious  ;  the  birds  are  only  seen  in 
pairs  or  by  families.  The  common  note  of  the  Drake  is/rr/, 
pec/;  but  when  at  his  post  as  sentinel,  on  espying  danger,  he 
makes  a  sort  of  crowing  noise,  like  '/loo  eek,  ^hoo  cek. 

The  food  of  the  Wood  Duck  consists  principally  of  acorns, 
the  seeds  of  aquatic  plants,  such  as  those  of  the  wild  oat,  etc., 


f-i 


It  .•'. 


liLUE-WINGEl)   TEAL. 


319 


and  insects  which  dwell  in  or  near  waters ;  and  1  have  seen 
a  fine  male  whose  sioniacii  was  wholly  filled  with  a  mass  of  the 
small  coleoptera,  called  Doiiatias,  which  are  seen  so  nimbly 
flying  over  or  resting  on  the  leaves  of  the  i)ond-lily.  These 
birds  are  therefore  very  alert  in  (juest  of  their  prey,  or  they 
never  coultl  capture  these  wary  insects.  They  are  not  uncom- 
mon in  the  markets  of  the  luistern  and  Middle  States,  and 
are  justly  esteemed  as  fooil. 

Wood  Ducks  have  sometimes  been  tamed,  and  soon  be- 
come familiar.  They  have  even  been  so  far  domesticated 
as  to  run  about  at  large  in  the  barn-yard  like  ordinary  fowls. 
In  France  they  have  also  been  acclimated  and  tamed,  and 
have  bred  in  this  condition. 

The  Wood  Duck  breeds  from  tlie  Middle  States  to  the  lower  fur 
countries,  —  latitude  60"  i)einy;  tlie  pr()t)al)le  limit  of  its  uortliern 
range,  —  and  winters  in  tlie  Southern  States.  It  is  common  in  New 
England,  and  rare  in  Manitoija. 


I3LUi:-W]X(;i:d  ieal. 

Anas  discors. 

Char.  Back  mottled  reddish  brown,  black,  and  buff ;  forehead,  crown, 
and  throat  dark  lead  color;  checks  witii  tint;e  of  lavender  and  a  white, 
cresccntic  patch  bciwecn  the  eyes  and  bill;  shouldcis  sky  blue;  wing, 
patch  green,  bordered  with  white  ;  under  parts  pale  reddish  buff,  more  or 
less  spotted  with  dusky;  bill  black;  legs  yellowish.  The  female  is  mot- 
tled dull  brown  and  buff,  and  has  an  indistinct  patch  nn  the  checks. 
Length  about  i5>2  inches. 

Nest.  Amid  a  tuft  of  rank  grass,  usually  in  a  wet  meadow  on  the 
marshy  margin  of  a  pontl  ,  made  of  grass  and  weed-stems  and  lined  with 
feathers. 

^V.-''f  6-12  ;  pale  buff  or  ivory  white,  sometimes  with  a  tinge  of  green 
when  fresh  ;  average  size  I.S5  X  1.30. 

The  Blue-winged  Teal,  according  to  the  season,  inhabits 
every  part  of  the  American  continent,  from  the  plains  of  the 
Saskatchewan  and  the  58th  j)arallel  to  (luiana  and  the  West 
Indies.     I'he  breeding-place  of  these  birds  is,  however,  to  the 


I 


W 


.   I'i 


n 


IH 


320 


SWIMMERS. 


north  and  west ;  they  are  particularly  al)un(lant  as  early  as 
August  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and  Mr.  Say  observed 
them  there  on  the  7th  of  June,  so  that  they  probably  breed  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  (Ireat  Lakes  of  the  St.  Lawrence  as  well  as  in 
the  remote  interior  of  the  Canadian  fur  countries. 

These  Teal  arrive  in  this  vicinity  and  otiier  parts  of  Massa- 
chusetts near  to  the  sea-coast  early  in  September,  and  accord- 
ing to  Wilson  are  seen  soon  after  on  the  muddy  shores  of  the 
Delaware,  where  they  are  often  observed  basking  or  hiding  in 
crowded  companies  close  to  the  edge  of  the  water,  where  th^  y 
can  only  be  ap[)roached  under  cover.  They  lly  out  with  rapid- 
ity, and  when  they  alight,  drop  down  suddenly  among  the 
reeds  in  the  manner  of  the  Snipe  or  Woodcock.  As  the  first 
frosts  come  on,  they  proceed  to  the  south,  and  then  abound  in 
the  inundated  rice-fields  of  the  Soutiiern  States,  where  great 
numbers  are  taken  in  traps  placed  (jn  the  small  dry  eminences 
that  here  and  tiiere  rise  above  the  water,  to  which  they  are 
decoyed  with  rice ;  and  by  the  common  contrivance  called  a 
Figure  4,  they  are  taken  alive  in  box-traps.  In  the  month 
of  April  they  ])ass  through  Pennsylvania  on  their  way  to  the 
North,  but  make  little  stay  at  that  season  ;  they  are  seen  also 
in  the  spring  in  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  spread  themselves 
widely  to  breed  throughout  a  great  extent  of  the  western  and 
northern  wilderness. 

Though  often  contiguous  to  the  sea,  these  birds  have  no  pre- 
dilection for  visiting  the  shores,  feeding  chiefly  on  vegetables 
and  insects,  and  particularly  on  the  wild  rice  which  abounds  in 
the  Northwestern  lakes  and  sluggish  streams.  They  are  much 
esteemed  as  game,  and  commonly  become  very  fat.  Their 
note,  which  is  somewhat  like  a  diminutive  cjuack,  is  uttered 
low  and  rather  rapidly. 

The  Blue-winged  Teal  is  uncommon  in  New  England  and  the 
Provinces,  and  we  must  go  to  the  region  bordering  the  Mississippi 
valley  to  find  it  in  abundance.  It  breeds  from  the  northern  tier  of 
States  northward,  and  winters  in  Florida,  the  West  Indies,  and 
Central  America. 


[he 

[of 
Lid 


GRKi'N-wrNdi.i)   I j:.\l. 

Anas  caroi.inknsis. 

Char.  Upper  parts  and  flanks  darU  grav  and  wliitu  in  fine  waved 
lines;  head  and  neci<  ciiestnut,  witli  a  hm  id  oiccn  band  on  tiic  sides; 
wing-patcii  ricii  green  and  blacis,  ijurclLred  witii  bu*f  and  wiiiii  ;  a  wiiitc 
crescentic  jiatch  in  front  of  tlie  slionldir  ;  under  parts  wliiie,  tlic  bn.ast 
spotted;  I)ilii3lacl<;  legs  leaden  gray.  'I'lie  funiaie  is  duller  in  .general 
color,  and  lias  fewer  an<l  less  conspicuous  markings.  Length  about  i.j 
inches. 

A'l'sf.  Amid  a  tuft  of  grass,  — made  of  grass  and  weed-stems  and  lined 
with  feathers. 

/'■i^,i;x.  6-12;  pale  buff  or  ivory  white,  tinged  with  green  when  fresh ; 
I. So  X  1.30. 

'I'he  (Ireen-winged  Teal,  as  a  species,  is  common  to  the 
northern  and  temperate  parts  of  both  (-ontinents.  'I'he  Amer- 
ican l)ircl  ai)pears  to  be  a  permanent  and  distinct  variet\. 
There  is,  according  to  Dr.  Richardson,  however,  in  the  Hud- 
son Bay  Museimi  a  specimen  from  the  fur  countries  agreeing 

vdi..  II.  —  21 


^1 


322 


SWIMMERS. 


ir,      • 


»>!{> 


IS! 


.If 


fti 


in  all  respects  with  the  European  species.  Our  variety  is 
abundant  to  the  extremity  of  the  continent,  both  in  the  woody 
and  barren  districts  of  the  remote  fur  countries  of  Hudson 
IJay.  It  is  also  plentiful  about  Severn  River,  in  the  woods 
and  plains  near  fresh  waters,  where  it  breeds,  the  young  being 
about  six  or  seven  at  a  hatch.  It  feeds  much  upon  fresh- 
water insects,  seeds,  and  aquatic  plants,  and  when  fat  is  deli- 
cate food.  In  the  autumn  and  winter  it  is  very  common 
throughout  the  waters  of  the  United  States,  both  in  the  inte- 
rior and  contiguous  to  the  sea-coast.  In  the  course  of  the 
winter  it  retires  as  far  south  as  Jamaica,  and  is  probably 
common  also  along  the  coasts  of  the  Mexican  (Julf.  It  fre- 
quents ponds,  marshes,  the  reedy  shores  of  creeks  and  rivers, 
and  in  winter  is  very  abundant  in  the  rice-plantations  of  the 
South.  The  birds  usually  fly  in  small  parties,  feeding  mostly 
by  night,  associating  with  the  Mallard,  and  are  commonly 
decoyed  by  its  call. 

The  Teal  is  found  in  the  North  of  Europe  as  far  as  Green- 
land and  Iceland,  and  it  also  inhabits  the  borders  of  the  Cas- 
pian to  the  south.  In  France  and  England  it  is  said  to  breed. 
It  is  commonly  seen  on  the  pools,  in  close  companies  of 
ten  or  twelve  together,  frequenting  the  rivers  and  unfrozen 
springs  in  winter,  where  it  subsists  on  aquatic  plants.  It  flies 
very  swiftly,  and  utters  a  sort  of  whistling  cry.  It  breeds 
in  the  fens,  contmuing  in  the  temperate  parts  of  Europe 
the  whole  year.  It  conceals  its  nest  among  the  bulrushes, 
constructing  it  of  their  stalks  and  lining  it  with  feathers  ;  it 
resti  also  somecimes  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  so  as  to  rise 
and  fall  with  the  flood.  The  female  takes  the  whole  manage- 
ment of  incubation ;  the  males  at  this  time  seeming  to  leave 
them  and  associate  by  themselves  in  companies.  The  Amer- 
ican Teals  in  the  autumn,  which  visit  this  ipiarter,  are  also  for 
the  most  part  young  birds  and  females,  the  males  pursuing  a 
different  route  apart  from  the  rest,  and  are  rarely  seen  here 
until  their  return  in  the  spring. 

The  Green-winged  Teal  is  abundant  in  Manitoba  and  the  sur- 
roundin";  resion  during  the  mi<;rations,  ar.d  numbers  nest  as  far 


H^ 


LiREEN-WlNGED   TEAL. 


?>2^ 


south  as  Lake  Winnipeg,  it  js  numerous  also  westward  to  tiie 
Pacific  slope,  breeding  in  tlie  mountain  region  of  Oregon,  and 
northward  to  Alaska.  In  the  East  it  is  quite  common  during  the 
migrations,  though  perhaps  more  numerous  in  the  interior  than 
on  the  lakes  and  streams  adjacent  to  the  coast,  and  breeding 
chiefly  in  the  Hudson  Bay  region  north  of  latitude  50  degrees. 
Being  a  strictly  freshwater  bird,  it  is  rarely  found  along  the 
sea-shore,  though  I  have  met  with  stragglers  occasionally  near 
the  mouths  of  streams  which  empty  into  the  Bay  of  Fundy. 

I  cannot  indorse  Xuttall's  statement  that  the  males  are  rarely 
seen  in  the  autumn  in  this  region,  thougli  they  do  usually  appear 
in  small  flocks,  and  separated  from  the  females. 

This  species  ranges  in  winter  from  Florida  to  Central  America. 


Note.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  Cinnamon  T\LXh  {Anas  cyan- 
optera)  have  wandered  from  the  Pacific  slope  to  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi  and  to  .Manitoba.  Another  straggler  of  tliis  group  — 
the  EuKOPKAN  Teal  {Anas  crecca\ —\\m  been  taken  on  the 
Atlantic  coast. 


I 


^"'■" 


■  ■»  -v->' 


¥ 


B 


'.'  .1 


> '  ■ ! 


11   ; 


AMERICAN    EIDER. 


1*1  ij 


!!•! 


COMMON   EIDER.     SEA    DUCK. 
SO.M.ATKRIA    DRF.SSKRI. 

Thar.  Hack,  cheeks,  and  wing-coverts  white ;  top  of  head,  wings,  tail, 
and  lielly  l)lacU  ;  patch  ut  sea-green  on  sides  of  neck;  breast  rosy  buff; 
bill  of  greenish  color,  and  with  long  wedges  of  feathers  extending  from 
the  forehead  and  checks  towards  the  nostrils ;  legs  dull  green.  The  female 
is  nearly  uniform  dull  brown,  mottled  with  paler  on  the  breast ;  belly  dull 
white.     Length  about  25  inches. 

A^cst.  Generally  on  a  flat  and  grassy  ocean  island,  often  on  a  bluff  on 
the  coast,  —  sometimes  on  a  heath-covered  moorland ;  a  substantial 
structure  of  coarse  marine  herbage  thickly  lined  with  down. 

Av.^r  4-10  ;  color  varies  from  creamy  gray  to  grayish  green  ;  2.95  X 
2.00. 

The  Eider  Duck,  remarkable  for  the  softness  of  its  valuable 
down,  seems  thus  purposely  provided  by  Nature  with  a  clothing 
suited  to  the  inclement  regions  in  which  it  genera'iy  dwells. 
Living  mostly  out  at  sea,  it  is  thus  enabled  to  endure  the  sever- 


AMERICAN   EIDER. 


325 


'li'fh 


ity  of  the  glacial  regions,  for  which  it  has  such  a  predilection. 
The  older  birds  are  indeed  only  partially  migratory,  moving  no 
farther  southward  in  winter  than  to  ])ermanent  open  water.  The 
presence  of  these  birds,  with  a  few  others  of  like  habits  ;in(l 
hardih(Jod,  contributes  to  give  an  air  of  animation  to  the  bleak 
and  dreary  co;ists  of  Greenland  and  Spitzbergen.  They  are  found 
throughout  Arctic  America,  and  in  severe  winters  sometimes 
wander  as  far  south  to  sea  as  the  capes  of  the  Delaware.  In  the 
depth  of  winter,  or  from  November  to  the  micklle  of  February, 
the  old  birds  are  also  usually  seen  in  small  numbers  towards  the 
extremities  of  Massachusetts  Bay  and  along  the  coast  of  Maine. 
A  few  pairs  even  have  been  known  to  breed  on  some  rocky 
islands  beyond  Portland.  Mr.  Audubon  found  several  nesting 
on  the  isle  of  (Irand  Menan,  in  the  liay  of  Fundy  ;  but  on  the 
bleak  and  wintry  coast  of  Labrador  they  were  seen  by  him  in 
abundance,  nesting  and  laying  from  April  to  the  last  of  May. 
The  nest  was  usually  jjlaced  under  the  shelter  of  a  low  pros- 
trate branched  and  dwarf  fir  (])robably  /'///us  I^./i/ks/az/a), 
and  sometimes  several  are  made  under  the  same  busii  within  a 
foot  or  two  of  each  other.  The  groundwork  of  the  nest,  as 
usual,  was  sea-weeds  and  moss,  but  the  down  of  the  female 
parent  is  only  added  when  all  the  eggs  are  laid.  The  I  )uck, 
now  acquiring  an  attachment  for  her  eggs,  was  at  this  time 
easily  approached,  her  (light  being  even  and  rather  slow.  As 
soon  as  the  task  of  incubation  has  commenced,  the  males  leave 
the  land,  and  associate  together  in  large  flocks  out  at  sea,  in 
July  begin  to  moult,  and  in  August  become  so  bare  as  to  be 
scarcely  able  to  rise  out  of  the   water. 

As  soon  as  the  young  are  hatched  they  are  leil  to  the  water 
by  their  attentive  parent,  and  there  remain,  excepting  in  the 
night  and  in  temjiestuous  weather.  Their  greatest  enemy, 
besides  man,  is  the  Saddle-l)a('k  Cull  (/.<7/7/s  ///ni-i/i/is)  :  they, 
however,  elude  his  ])iirsuit  by  diving,  at  which  both  old  and 
young  are  very  expert.  'I'he  down,  though  so  valuable,  is 
neglected  in  Labrador.  It  is  so  liglu  and  elastic  that  two  or 
three  poun<ls  of  it,  pressed  into  a  ball  that  niav  be  held  in  the 
hand,  will  swell  out  to  such  an  extent  as  to  fill  and  distend  the 


^l 


f 


326 


SWIMMERS. 


im 


'  :  :i 


foot-covering  of  a  large  bed.  I'he  best  kind,  termed  live 
down,  is  that  which  the  I'^ider  plucks  to  line  the  nest ;  the 
(If  wn  taken  from  the  dead  bird  is  greatly  inferior,  and  it  is 
rare  that  so  valuable  a  bird  is  now  killed  for  the  purpose.  To 
augment  the  (juantity  of  down  from  the  same  bird,  the  eggs, 
which  are  very  palatable,  are  taken,  and  the  female  again  strips 
herself  to  cover  the  second  ami  smaller  hatch.  If  the  nest  be 
a  second  time  plunderetl,  as  the  fem;','e  can  furnish  no  addi- 
tional lining,  the  male  now  lentls  his  aid  and  strips  the  cov- 
eted down  from  his  breast,  wiiich  is  well  known  by  its  paler 
color.  'I'he  last  laying,  of  only  two  or  three  eggs,  is  always 
left,  to  kindle  the  parents'  hojjes  of  progeny  ;  for  if  this  be  taken 
they  will  abandon  the  place,  but  thus  indulged,  they  continue  to 
return  the  following  year,  accompanied  by  their  young.  The 
most  southern  breeding-place  of  this  species  in  i'^urope  is  the 
Feme  Isles,  on  the  coast  of  Northiunberland  ;  and  voyagers 
who  have  ventured  to  the  dreary  extremity  of  Arctic  l'Airo]je, 
hear,  in  summer,  from  the  caverns  and  rocks  of  the  final  cape, 
the  deep  moan  of  the  com])laining  ilider.  In  Norway  and 
Iceland  the  luder  districts  are  considered  as  valuable  property, 
carefully  preserved,  and  transn">itted  by  inheritance.  There 
are  spots  that  contain  many  himdreds  of  these  nests  ;  and  the 
Icelanders  are  at  the  utmost  pains  to  invite  the  luders  each 
into  his  own  estate  ;  and  when  they  perceive  that  they  begin 
to  frequent  some  of  the  islets  which  maintain  herds,  they  soon 
remove  the  cattle  and  dogs  to  the  mainland,  to  i)r(,)cure  the 
Eiders  an  undisturbed  retreat ;  and  to  accommodate  them, 
sometimes  cut  out  holes  in  rows  on  the  smooth,  sloping  l)anks, 
of  which,  to  save  themselves  trouble,  they  willingly  take  pos- 
session and  form  their  nests.  These  people  have  even  made 
many  small  islands  for  this  purpose  by  disjoining  promontories 
from  the  continent.  It  is  in  these  retreats  of  peace  and  soli- 
tude that  the  Eiders  love  to  settle  ;  though  they  are  not 
averse  to  nestle  near  habitations  if  they  experience  no  moles- 
tation. '*  .A  person,"  says  Horrebow,  "  as  I  myself  have  wit- 
nessed, may  walk  among  these  birds  while  they  are  sitting,  and 
not  scare  them  ;  he  may  even  take  the  eggs,  and  yet  they  will 


til 


AMERICAN    KIDLR. 


1^7 


renew  their  laying  as  often  as  three  times."  Aceortiini,^  to  the 
relation  of  Sir  Oeorge  .Mackenzie,  on  the  cSth  of  June,  at  X'idoe, 
the  ICider  Ducks,  at  all  othi-r  times  of  the  ye;ir  pcrficlly  wild, 
had  now  assembled  in  great  numbers  to  nestle.  '1  he  boat  by 
which  the  parly  ap])r>  aeiied  the  shore  passed  through  nnilti- 
tudes  of  these  beautiful  fowls,  which  scarcely  gave  themselves 
the  trouble  to  go  out  of  the  way.  "  lietween  the  landing-place 
and  the  governor's  house  the  ground  was  strewed  with  them, 
and  it  recjuiretl  some  caution  to  avoiil  treading  on  the  nests. 
The  drakes  were  walking  about  uttering  a  sound  very  like  the 
cooing  of  1  )oves,  and  were  even  more  familiar  than  the  common 
Domestic  Ducks.  All  round  the  house,  on  the  garden  wall,  on 
the  roofs,  and  even  in  the  inside  of  the  houses  and  in  the 
chapel  were  numbers  of  Ducks  sitting  on  their  nests.  Such  as 
had  not  been  long  on  the  nest  generally  left  il  on  being 
approached  ;  but  those  thai  had  more  than  one  or  two  eggs 
sat  perfectly  quiet,  suffering  us  to  touch  them,  and  scjmetimes 
making  a  gentle  use  of  their  bills  to  remove  our  hands.  When 
a  drake  happens  to  be  near  his  mate,  he  is  extremely  agitated 
when  any  one  approaches  her.  He  passes  and  rci)asses  be- 
tween her  ami  the  object  of  his  suspicion,  raising  his  head  and 


coomg. 


One  female,  during  the  whole  time  of  laying,  generally  gives 
half  a  pound  of  neat  down,  and  double  that  (piantily  before 
cleansing.  According  to  'I'roil.  in  the  year  i  750  the  Iceland 
Company  sold  as  much  of  this  article  as  amounted  to  ^^^50 
sterling,  besides  deducting  what  was  sent  directly  to  Gluckstad. 

At  ihe  time  of  pairing,  according  to  llrunnich  and  Skiolde- 
brand,  the  male  is  heard  continually  calling  out  with  a  raucous 
and  moaning  voice  '/iti  ho,  'ha  hi> ;  but  the  cry  of  the  female 
resembles  that  of  the  Common  1  )uck.  At  this  exciting  period 
the  males,  more  numerous  than  their  mates,  have  sharp  con- 
tests with  each  other,  and  the  vanquished  and  superannuated 
are  afterwards  seen  wandering  al)Out  at  sea  in  much  milder 
climates  than  the  rest  of  their  fraternity.  IJoth  birds  labor  in 
concert  while  forming  the  nest,  and  though  the  male  gives  no 
assistance  in  hatching,  during  the  period  of  laying  he  keeps 


i 


^ 


328 


SWIMMERS. 


V 


') 


'      :'l 


Mi  ill  k 


IH 


•iiii 


A 


Strict  watch  in  the  vicinity,  giving  notice  of  any  danger  as  soon 
as  it  appears.  The  Ravens,  it  seems,  no  less  than  the  dulls, 
are  the  enemies  of  this  valuable  bird,  often  sucking  the  eggs 
and  killing  the  young ;  the  female  therefore  hastens  to  convey 
her  brood  to  the  sea,  sometimes  even  carrying  them  on  her 
back  to  the  element  in  which  they  are  thenceforth  destined  to 
live.  The  male  now  also  leaves  her,  and  neither  of  them 
returns  more  that  season  permanently  to  the  land.  Several 
hatches  associate  together  at  sea  and  form  flocks  of  twenty  or 
thirty,  attended  by  the  females,  who  lead  them,  and  are  seen 
continually  splashing  the  water,  to  raise  with  the  mud  and  sed- 
iment, the  insects  and  small  shell-fish  for  such  of  the  young  as 
are  too  weak  to  dive  for  themselves. 

The  Eider  dives  deep  after  fry,  and  feeds  upon  small 
shell-fish,  mussels,  and  univalves,  and  sometimes  on  the  sea- 
urchin  {/u-/ii/ii/s)  and  various  kinds  of  marine  insects  and  sea- 
weeds, and  in  summer  mostly  on  the  soft  mollusca  so  abund- 
ant in  the  Arctic  and  hyperboreal  seas.  Its  flesh  is  dark  and 
fishy,  though  sufficiently  tender,  and  that  of  the  young  and  the 
female  may  be  ccnsidered  good.  It  is  commonly  eaten  by  the 
Greenlanders,  and  its  skin  is  esteemed  as  an  excellent  inner 
garment.  Prepared  with  the  feathers  left  on,  it  also  forms  an 
article  of  commerce  with  the  North,  and  i)articularly  with  the 
Chinese.  Mtti-d  jnirposely  for  inhabiting  tiie  coldest  climates 
and  the  sea,  the  I'ader  does  not  long  survive  in  temperate  re- 
gions, and  all  attemjjts  to  tlomesticate  it  have  consecpiently 
failed. 

In  the  breeding-season,  in  Norway,  some  of  the  male  lliders 
are  seen  roaming  about  unpaired,  either  superannuated  or  un- 
able to  keep  possession  of  the  females.  Mr.  Audubon  remarks 
that  the  Sea  Ducks  (Eiders,  Surf  Duck,  \'elvet,  and  Scoter) 
nn)ult  in  July,  and  by  the  loth  of  August  are  so  naked  of 
feathers,  and  even  destitute  of  quills,  as  to  he  unable  to  rise 
either  from  the  water  or  the  ground.  At  this  juncture,  in  the 
r>ay  of  Fundy,  the  Indians  in  large  companies  assemble  in 
their  canoes  at  the  entrances  of  the  bays  frequented  by  these 
birds,  and  dividing  themselves  on  either  side  of  the  headland, 


KING   EIDER. 


329 


fire  blank  charges  and  hooting  and  yelling  as  loud  as  pos- 
sible, drive  the  terrified  birds  into  the  cove  at  high-tide, 
where  the  natives  remain  nntil  the  ebb.  The  Ducks  are  then 
left  grounded  on  the  naked  coast,  and  are  thus  easily  de- 
spatched with  clubs. 

This  Eider  formerly  nested  on  the  islands  in  tlie  IJay  of  Fundv 
but  in  recent  years  has  not  been  known  to  l)reed  to  the  southward 
ot  the  St  Lawrence,  though  it  does  not  ran-e  north  of  Labrador 
Durniy  tlie  winter  months  it  is  found  in  the  (iulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
and  along  tlie  Atlantic  coast  as  far  as  Delaware.  Examples  are 
seen  occasionally  on  tlic  CJreat  Lakes. 

Mr.  Thomas  .A.  Jag-ar.  wlio  visited  Lal)rador  in  KS90.  told  me 
that  he  lound  a  number  of  the  nests  „l  this  species,  and  that  they 
nivariably  contained  four  eo-o-s 


GREENLAND    EIDER. 

SOMATKRIA    .Mor.r.I.SSl.MA    HORKAI.IS. 

Char. -Almost  similar    in  coloration  to  6-.  dn'ssen,  but  differing  in 
the  shape  ot  the  weclgc-iike  characters  of  the  bill. 
A^cst  and  E^i^s.     Similar  to  drt-sscn. 

The  birds  found  breedin.o;  in  Greenland  were  formeriv  supposed 
to  .;e  of  tlie  European  race,  -  typical  mollisswui ;  but  within  a 
tew  years  it  has  been  discovered  that  there  was  sutiicient  differ- 
ence to  warrant  a  separation,  there  being  a  slight  distinction  in  the 
coloration  and  in  the  shape  of  the  bill. 

In  habits  these  Greenland  birds  do  not  differ  from  their  more 
southern  allies.  .Mr.  fbigerup  .states  that  large  numbers  winter 
near  the  open  water  in  South  (ireenland,  arriving  there  chieHv  from 
the  northward.  ^ 


KIN(r    EIDER. 

SOMAIKRIA    SPIX  TAl'.II.IS. 

Char.  Top  of  he.id  pearl  ^rav,  shading  to  deeper  on  the  nape;  a 
back  hne  bordering  the  base  of  the  bill,  wlm  h  is  formed  like  a  shield- 
cheeks  white  with  p.-xtches  of  green;  neck,  upper  back,  and  shoulder; 
white  ;  lower  back  black;  wings  and  tail  dark  brown;  two  lines  of  bhick 
from  the  chin  form  a  chevron  on  the  throat ;  breast  white,  tinged  with 


?  ^/, 


330 


SWIMMERS. 


[    t   . 


"l 


t.  ■  1  •  i  ■ 


:h 


buff;  bill  and  Icj;s  orange.  The  female  lias  the  entire  plumage  of  two 
shades  of  brown,  the  centre  of  the  feathers  dark  brown,  and  the  edges 
rufous.     Ixiigtli  J4  inches. 

A'fs/.     <  )n  an  ocean  island  or  sea-side  cliff,  sometimes  on  a  dry  hillside, 

—  usually  a  depression  in  tlie  soil  thickly  lined  with  down  ;  often  a  high 
struct  lire  of  twigs  and  moss. 

Z;),',{,o'.  ()-io  (usually  6)  ;  green  (jf  various  shades,  with  nu)re  or  less 
tinge  of  buff;  2.60  X  i-yo. 

This  species  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  ,L,da(ial  regions,  living 
generally  out  at  sea,  and  feeding,  independently  of  the  land, 
chielly  upon  the  mollusca  whicli  abound  in  the  Arctic  Sea. 
It  is  never  seen  in  fresh  waters,  and  only  resorts  to  land 
for  the  indispensable  purposes  of  reproduction.  lieing  well 
provided  with  a  thick  and  downy  robe,  it  is  little  inclined 
to  change  its  situation,  however  rigorous  the  climate  ;  and  as 
the  frost  invades  its  resorts,  it  continually  recedes  farther  out 
to  sea,  and  dwells  securely  amidst  eternal  barriers  of  ice  and 
all  the  horrors  of  an  Arctic  winter.  'I'he  King  Duck,  still 
more  sedentary  than  the  Mider,  is  seldom  seen  beyond  the 
59th  parallel,  excejH  in  the  depth  of  winter,  when,  according 
to  Audubon,  it  is  observed  off  the  coast  of  Halifax  in  Nova 
Scotia,  Newfoundland,  etc.,  antl  a  few  have  been  ol)tained  off 
lioston,  and  at  Ivistport  in  Maine.  These  birds  abound  in 
Greenland  and  Spitzbergen,  and  visit  and  sometimes  breed  in 
the  Orkneys  and  other  of  the  remote  Scottish  isles.  A  few  are 
ako  occasionally  seen  on  the  coasts  of  the  IJaltic  and  in  Den- 
mark. They  breed  sometimes  in  the  crevices  of  rocks  impend- 
ing over  the  sea,  making  a  nest  of  sticks  and  moss,  lined  with 
down  from  the  breast. 

The  tlesh  is  said  to  be  palatable,  the  gibbous  part  of  the  bill 
being  accounted  a  delicacy ;  and  the  down  collected  by  the 
Greenlanders  is  esteemed  of  equal  value  with  that  of  the 
Common   luilers. 

The  King  Eider  breeds  in  high  latitudes,  —  north  of  latitude  73^, 

—  but  a  few  pairs  nest  on  the  Labrador  coast,  and-  Mr.  Boardnian 
says  that  nests  have  been  found  in  the  I>ay  of  Fundy. 

In  winter  these  birds  arc  found  in  South  (ireenland  and  along 
the  coast  of  New  Jersey  (sparingly),  and  occasionally  on  the  (ireat 
Lakes. 


h 


^1 


SURF  scoriiR. 

SURF   DUCK.      PATCH-lli:Ar3.      IIOKSK-HEAD   COOT. 
SKUNK-llKAl). 

(")II)F.MIA    ri'.KSPK  II.I.ATA. 

CilAR.  Male:  general  cnlor  deep  l)la(k  ;ihnvo,  paler  below  ;  a  white 
patch  on  the  forehead  and  on  the  nape;  hill  mostly  orange  red,  with  a 
patch  of  black  near  the  base  of  the  upper  maiuiibU',  bordered  by  oran.ne 
and  pale  blue;  lower  mandible  pinkish  ;  Ici^s  and  toes  orange,  webs  didl 
green,  claws  black.  l''emale  :  u]i])er  ]iarts  dnskv  or  sootv  brown  ;  tmder 
parts  grayish;  bill  dusky;  legs  and  feet  dull  buff.  Length  about  \<) 
inches. 

A\s/.  On  the  margin  of  a  lake  or  sluggish  stream,  concealed  amid  a 
tussock  of  rank  herbage  or  beneath  a  low  branch,  —  made  of  coarse  weed- 
stems  and  lined  with  down. 

E^i^'-gs.     5-8;  pale  buff  or  ivory  white;  2..|o  X  1. 65. 

This  species  of  Sc;i  Duck,  with  other  dirk  kinds  here  com- 
monly called  Coots,  may  be  ])ro])erly  considered  ;is  an  .\nier- 
ic;in  species,  its  visits  in  the  Orkneys  and  Mtiropean  seas 
being  merely  accidental.     It  breeds  on  the  .\rctic  coasts,  and 


IV 


h 


332 


SWIMMERS. 


m 


11 ' 


m 


extends  its  residence  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  continent, 
having  been  seen  at  Nootka  Sound  by  Ca|)tain  C"ooi<. 

During  summer  these  Ducks  feed  princijjally  in  the  sea; 
they  also  commonly  fretjuent  shallow  bars  and  surf-lashed 
shores  and  bays  in  cjuest  of  various  kinds  of  small  shell- fish, 
for  which  while  on  our  roast  they  are  almost  perpetually  div- 
ing. 'I'hey  begin  to  migrate  southwaril  from  their  northern 
resorts  in  company  with  the  Long-Tailed  Ducks,  at  which 
period  the  flocks  halt  both  on  the  shores  of  Hudson  Bay  and 
on  the  lakes  of  the  interior  as  long  as  they  remain  open, 
feeding  on  tender  shelly  mollusca. 

The  Surf  Duck,  or  .Sea  Coot,  breeds  also  along  the  shores  of 
Hudson  l>ay  and  in  Labrador,  and  is  said  to  make  a  nest  of 
grass,  lining  it  with  down  or  feathers,  and  lays  from  four  to 
six  white  eggs,  which  are  hatched  in  the  month  of  July.  It 
selects  the  borders  of  freshwater  ponds  for  its  eyries,  on 
which  the  young  are  fed,  and  protected  until  they  are  nearly 
ready  to  fly.  Although  tliese  birds  extend  their  migrations  to 
the  coast  of  IHorida,  they  often  continue  along  all  the  shores 
and  open  bays  of  the  L'nion  throughout  the  winter  ;  or  at  least 
parties  go  and  come  during  the  greater  part  of  the  period. 
Early  in  May,  or  the  close  of  A|)ril.  they  are  again  seen  bend- 
ing their  course  towards  the  North.  They  are  shy  birds  to 
approach,  but  can  be  decoyed  by  imitative  wooden  ducks  of 
the  same  general  ap])earance.  Their  flesh,  however,  remark- 
ably red  and  dark  when  cooked,  is  very  fishy,  and  has  but  lit- 
tle to  recommend  it ;  the  young  birds  are  somewhat  superior 
in  flavor,  but  the  whole  are  of  little  consetjuence  as  game, 
though  often  eaten  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighboring 
coasts. 

Tlie  Surf  Scoter  breeds  regularly  througliout  Labrador  and  in  the 
Hudson  Hay  and  (Jre.at  Slave  Lake  regions.  It  is  common  on  tlie 
Atlantic  coast  and  in  .Manitoba  while  migrating,  and  winters  from 
Massachusetts  to  the  Carolinas  and  the  lower  valley  of  the  Ohio. 


il         t 


AMERICAN  SCOTER. 


333 


BLACK  SCOTER. 


AMERICAN    SCOOTER. 

IJUTTER-BILl.I-:!)  COOT. 
SEX    COOT. 

OlDKMI.A     AMKRICANA. 


BLACK  COOT. 


Char.  Male:  general  plumage  black,  the  under  parts  somewhat 
brownish;  bill  black,  with  huge  patch  ,.f  ..range  or  vell.nv  on  upper 
mandible;  legs  and  feet  black.  Length  about  20  inches.  Female: 
smaller  than  the  male  ;  plumage  dusky  brown,  more  or  less  mi.xed  with 
white  on  under  j.arts. 

Ms/.  On  a  sea-side  cliff  or  moorland  bluff  near  a  lake, —  made  of 
coarse  herbage  and  lined  with  down. 

■^W.i,^-f-     6-10;  1)uff  of  various  shades;  2.55  X  i.So, 

This  species,  ])robably  confounded  with  the  Coninion  Scoter, 
is  said  to  inhabit  the  shores  of  Hudson  Hay,  breeding  between 
the  50th  and  6oth  parallels,  but  does  not  api)ear  to  freciuent 
the  interior.  It  lives  and  feeds  i)rinci])ally  at  sea,  and  its  flesh 
is  rank  and  oily.  The  American  Scoters  visit  the  coasts  and 
bays  of  Massachusetts  and  New  York  in  considerable  numbers, 
associating  with  the  Surf,  Velvet,  Eider,  and  other  Sea  Ducks,' 
and  are  brought  occasionally  to  Boston  market  about  the  first 
week  in  November.  While  here  they  appear  to  feed  princi- 
pally on  shell-fish,  particularly  mussels,  and  the  flesh  of  the 
young  is  tolerably  palatable. 

The  American  Scoter  is  not  so  strictly  a  sea-bird  as  Nuttall  sup- 
posed, for  though  coinmon  on  the  coast  it  is  found  also  on  all  the 
larger  inland  waters. 

In  habits  this  species  does  not  differ  materially  from  its  allies. 


"i 
II 

n 

(ill 


:i 


!■ 


334 


SWl.MMKKS. 


T 


h 


J  ■-;  < 


J    . 


WHrri:-\viN(;i-:i)  scotkr. 

WniTE-WINGKU   COOT.      SKA    COOl'.     VLLVKT    M.OTEU. 
OlDKMIA    |)l,(;i,AM)l. 

("iiAK.  Male:  lilack,  with  a  bro;ul  baml  of  white  on  the  wings,  and  a 
small  pateii  of  uiiite  under  the  eyes;  i<nob  on  bill  black,  rest  of  bill  and 
legs  orange.  I'Vinale  :  sootv  brown,  i)alcr  below;  head  more  or  less 
varied  with  white;  wing-patcli  white;  bill  and  legs  blackish.  Length 
20  to  23  inches. 

A'l's/.  On  the  bank  of  a  lake  or  slii^gish  stream,  concealed  at  the  foot 
of  a  low  tree  or  bush,  —  made  of  coarse  herbage  and  moss,  lined  with 
feathers;  sometimes  lined  with  down. 

/'.[i^M's-  6-9  (usually  6) ;  pale  dull  buff,  varying  to  delicate  cream  color; 
2.70  X  1.S5. 

Tlic  White-vvini(c'd  Scoter  niij^ht  be  charactcrizccl  a.s  a  Sea  Duck 
that  retires  inland  to  breed.  It  occurs  in  summer,  and  builds  from 
about  latitude  50"^  to  the  fur  countries,  and  winters  on  the  Massa- 
cluisetts  coast  and  south  to  Chesapeake  Hay.  Some  few  individuals 
are  found  in  winter  on  the  (Ireat   Lakes. 

The  habits  of  these  birds  do  not  differ  from  others  of  the  group. 
Their  principal  food  is  inollusks.  which  they  obtain  by  diving, 
generally  in  deep  water;  and  they  are  most  active  at  night,  float- 
ing on  the  water  asleep  during  a  great  part  of  the  day.  Their  note 
is  a  harsh  ker-ker. 

NoTK.  —  The  European  Vklvet  Di'CK  {Oidemia  fitsca) 
wanders  occasionally  to  the  coasts  of  (ireenland. 


( 


\'^k 


RUUDY    DUCK. 

SPINE-TAILED  DUCK.     BROAD-BILL  DUCK.     DIPPER   DUCK. 


I^KISMAIIRA    RUKIDA. 


tall- 


Its 
led 


Char.  Bill  long  and  very  wide  at  the  end  and  deep  at  the  ba.'so 
feathers  stiff  and  pointed.  Male  in  summer  :  upper  parts  rich  c' 
crown  and  nape  black  ;  checks  and  chin  white ;  rump  and  winj; 
grayish  brown  ;  wings  and  tail  dusky  ;  under  parts  silvery  white,  - 
with  dusky;  bill  and  feet  bluish.  Male  in  winter,  young  male,  and 
female:  upper  parts  dull  grayish  blown,  varied  with  dull  buff,  top  of 
head  darker;  cheeks  and  chin  dull  white;  neck  brownish  gray  ;  lower 
parts  grayish  white  ;  bill  and  feet  dusky.     Length  about  1 5  inches. 


KUDhV    l>r(K. 


3.1 5 


i<«ii- 


A'l's/,  III  the  marsliy  marj;in  dI'  a  |>i(ii{|  m  slu^;);i><li  ^ticam,  amid  the 
ranU  lietljaf-L-  rlnsu  hv  tlic  watir's  edge,  —  a  loosely  iiiailc,  bulky  stniLtuic 
ol  iitils  ami  toaisf  j;ia>s,  lined  with  ^lass 

/•.',i,'VJ.  ?  sometimes  jo;  pale  bull  or  dirty  white,  with  a  roiigli  surface; 
2.40  X  I. So. 

'I'liis  spL'cit's,  an  exclusive  inliabitant  of  America,  retires  to 
the  North  to  breed,  rre(|iientii\n  the  small  lakes  in  the  interior 
of  the  fur  countries  up  to  the  5.Sth  parallel.  On  the  5th  of 
August  it  was  also  observed  by  Mr.  Say  at  IVmbino,  in  the 
latitude  of  49°,  where,  no  doid)t,  it  also  passes  the  period  of 
rei)roduction.  These  birds  are  very  unwilling  to  take  wing, 
though  they  lly  pretty  well  when  once  startetl.  'Ihey  ('i\e 
with  the  greatest  facility,  and  particularly  at  the  Hash  of  the 
gun,  or  even  the  report  of  the  i)ercussion-t  ap.  When  swim- 
ming they  have  a  habit  (jf  carrying  the  tail  so  erect  that  it 
appears  of  the  same  height  with  the  head  and  neck.  Small 
flocks,  consisting  of  the  female  and  young,  are  often  seen  in 
Fresh  Pond,  in  this  vicinity  ;  but  scarcely  ever  the  adult  males, 
who  seem  to  migrate  usually  apart  at  this  season.  'I'hey  visit 
us  early  in  ( )ctober,  and  in  the  course  of  the  winter  proceed 
south  to  the  extremity  of  the  I'nion.  On  their  first  arrival 
they  are  tame  and  unsuspicious ;  but  the  old  males  are  ex- 
tremely shy  and  difficult  of  approach.  Their  food  a])pears 
to  be  principally  marine  and  lluviatile  vegetables,  and  seeds, 
for  which  they  dive.  Besides  gravel,  I  have  found  in  the 
stomach  seeds  and  husks  of  the  Riippia  marifiiiia.  They 
rarely,  if  ever,  visit  the  sea,  but  are  found  towards  the  head  of 
tide-waters  in  estuaries  and  small  ponds  at  no  great  distance 
from  the  ocean.  They  are  common  in  the  markets  of  Boston, 
where  they  are  sold  under  the  name  of  Dun-birds,  and  their 
flesh  is  good  and  much  esteemed. 

The  Ruddy  Duck  is  said  to  be  getierally  distributed  over  North 
America  and  to  breed  throui^hout  its  range;  but  in  the  Xtw 
England  States  it  occurs  principally  as  a  fall  and  spring  nii<rrant. 
and  a  few  individuals  have  been  seen  (hiring  the  winter  months.  I 
think  they  breed  on  the  Clrand  Lake  Meadows  in  New  Bninswii  k, 
for  I  have  seen  very  young  birds  there. 

The  males  arc  rarely  seen  in  full  plumatje,  in  which  they  make  a 


t! 


ffi 


[r'i^. 


336 


SWIMMERS. 


strikingly  beautiful  appearance,  and  the  bird  is  familiar  only  in  the 
duller  colors,  worn  at  all  seasons  by  the  young  male  and  female ; 
and  in  this  inconspicuous  dress  these  birds  are  enabled  to  avoid 
observation  by  hiding  in  the  rank  herbage  so  common  at  their 
resorts,  and  thus  have  gained  a  reputation  for  being  rare,  while 
they  are  fairly  common.  They  are  known  to  be  common  by  the 
gunners  of  Cliesapeake  IJay,  who  take  them  to  market,  —  their 
food  l)eing  chiefly  marine  plants,  which  they  obtain  Ijy  diving; 
their  flesh  is  tender,  and  of  plea  iant  flavor. 


?'.i 


:  i  I 
it 


;      I 


C.VNVAS-inCK   DUCK. 

AvrilVA    VAI.I.ISNKKIA. 

Char.  Mantle  and  sides  silveiy  white,  daintily  marked  with  waved 
lines  of  dusky  ;  liead  and  neck  brownish  letl :  h)Wci  neck  and  breast  and 
runi])  Ijrownish  l)lack  ;  wings  and  tail  gray;  uniler  parts  white;  bill  Ijlack; 
legs  leaden  gray.  In  the  female  the  head,  neck,  and  breast  are  dull 
brown;  upper  parts  grayish  brown;  iieiiy  white.    Length  about  22  inclies. 

A'dst.  In  marshy  margin  of  stream  or  lake,  concealed  amid  rank  her- 
bage, —  made  usually  of  grass  and  weed  stems  and  lined  with  feathers. 

E^fgs.     6-10;  grayish  olive, — sometimes  tinged  with  drab;  2.40  X  1.75. 

The  Canvas-back,  so  well  known  as  a  delicacy  of  the  table, 
is  a  species  peculiar  to  the  continent  of  America.  It  breeds, 
according  to  Richardson,  in  all  parts  of  the  remote  fur  coun- 
triesj  from  the  50th  parallel  to  their  most  northern  limits,  and 
at  this  period  associates  much  on  the  water  with  the  ordinary 
tribe  of  Ducks.  After  the  close  of  the  period  of  reproduction, 
accumulating  in  flocks,  and  driven  to  the  open  waters  of  the 
South  for  their  favorite  means  of  subsistence,  these  birds  arrive 
about  the  middle  of  October  seawards  on  the  coast  of  the 
United  States.  .\  few  at  this  time  visit  the  Hudson  and  the 
Delaware,  but  the  great  body  of  emigrants  take  up  their  quar- 
ters in  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake  and  in  the  numerous  estuaries 
and  principal  rivers  which  empty  into  it,  particularly  the  Sus- 
quehanna, the  Patapsco,  Potomac,  and  James  rivers.  They 
also  frequent  the  sounds  and  bays  of  North  Carolina,  and  are 
abundant  in  the  river  Neuse,  in  the  vicinity  of  Newbern,  and 
probably  in  most  of  the  other  Southern  waters  to  the  coast  of 


(ANVAS-DACK    DUCK. 


the  dull' t)f  Mexico,  Ijciiii^  M^'cn  in  uiiilcr  in  the  mild  climate 
of  New  Orleans.  In  tlu>e  tlilTerent  sections  of  the  I'nion  they 
are  known  hy  the  various  names  ot'  t'anvas-backs,  W'hite- 
b;i<:ks,  and  Sheldrakes.  In  the  dci.th  ot  winter  a  tew  pairs, 
probably  driven  from  tile  interior  by  cold,  arrive  in  Massai  iiu- 
setts  l'>ay,  in  the  \icinity  of  Cohassel  and  near  Martha's  \'ine- 
yard  ;  these,  as  in  ilie  waters  of  New  NOrk,  are  commonly 
associated  with  llie  Red-head,  or  l'o(  hard,  to  wiii(  ii  they  iiave 
so  near  an  affinity.  llnir  principal  fool,  instead  of  the  fresh- 
water ])lant  / '(?//,\7/(v/(j',  which  is  I  onfmed  to  so  small  a  space, 
is  in  fact  the  different  kinds  of  sea-wrack,  known  here  by  the 
name  of  eel-grass,  from  its  j)rodigious  leUL^th.  These  \ege- 
tables  are  found  in  nearly  every  part  of  the  Atlantic,  growing 
like  submerged  fields  over  all  the  muddy  llats,  shallow  bays, 
estuaries,  and  inlets,  ^.ubject  to  the  access  of  ',alt  or  brackish 
waters.  They  are  the  marine  ])astures  in  whi(  h  mo^l  of  the 
Sea  Ducks,  no  le^s  than  the  present,  find  at  all  times,  ex- 
cept in  severe  fVosts.  au  ample  supply  of  food. 

The  Canvas-backs  on  their  fu'st  arrival  are  generally  lean  ; 
but  by  the  beginning  of  November  they  become  in  good  order 
for  the  table.  They  are  excellent  divers,  anil  swim  with  si)eed 
and  agility.  They  sometimes  assemble  by  thousands  in  a 
Hock,  and  rising  suddenly  on  wing,  i)roduie  a  noise  like  thunder. 
During  the  day  they  are  commonly  dispersed  about  in  tpiest 
of  food,  but  towards  evening  collect  together,  and  coming  into 
the  creeks  and  river  inlets,  ride  as  it  were  at  anchor,  with  their 
heads  under  tiieir  wings  asleep;  sentinels,  however,  appear 
awake  and  ready  to  raise  an  alarn.  on  the  least  appearance  of 
danger.  At  other  times  they  are  seen  swimming  about  the 
shoals  and  diving  at'ter  the  sea-wrac  k.  whi(  h  thev  commonlv 
pluck  up,  and  select  onl\  the  tenderest  porti(jn  towards  the 
root,  'i'haugh  thu:-.  laboriou>ly  engaged,  thev  are  still  ex- 
tremely shy.  and  can  rarely  be  approached  but  by  stratagem  ; 
for  even  while  feeding,  several  remain  unemployi'd.  and  \igilant 
against  any  snr])rise.  When  wounded  in  the  wing,  they  di\e  to 
prodigious  distances,  and  with  such  rapidity  and  perseverance 
as  almost  to  render  the  pursuit  hopeless.      The  great  demand 

vol  .     n. 22 


w 


33(i 


SWIMMERS. 


and  hit^h  estimation  in  which  thc'^,c  Ducks  arc  held,  spurs  the 
int^cnuity  of  the  gunner  to  practise  every  expedient  which  may 
promise  success  in  their  capture.  They  are  sometimes  decoyed 
to  shore  or  within  gunshot  by  means  of  a  dog  trained  for  the 
])urpose,  which,  playing  backwards  and  forwards  ;.'ong  the 
shore,  attracts  the  vacant  curiosity  of  the  birds,  a.id  as  they 
ap|)roach  within  a  suitable  distance,  the  concealed  fowler  rakes 
them  first  on  the  water,  and  afterwards  as  they  rise.  .Some- 
times by  mo(jnlight  the  sportsman  directs  his  hkiff  t(jwartls  a 
fl()(  k,  whose  pc^sition  he  has  previously  ascertained,  and  keep- 
ing within  the  projecting  shadow  of  some  wood,  bank,  or  head- 
land, he  paddles  silently  along  to  within  fifteen  or  twenty  yards 
of  a  tlock  of  many  thousands,  among  whom  he  conseiiuently 
makes  great  destruction. 

As  the  severity  of  the  winter  augments,  and  the  rivers  be- 
come extensively  fro/en,  the  Canvas-backs  retreat  towards  the 
ocean,  and  are  then  seen  in  the  shallow  bays  which  still  remain 
open,  occasionally  also  freciuenting  the  air-hoks  in  the  ice, 
and  oi)eniiigs  which  are  sometimes  made  tor  the  purpose, 
immediately  over  the  beds  of  sea-grass,  to  entice  them  wilhin 
gunshot  of  the  hut  or  bush  fixed  at  a  c(jnvenient  distanee  for 
commanding  the  hungry  tlocks.  So  urgent  sometimes  are  the 
Ducks  for  food  in  winter  that  atone  of  these  artificial  o])i'nings 
in  the  ice,  in  James  Rixer,  a  Mr.  Hill,  according  to  Wilson, 
accompanied  by  a  second  persi>n.  picked  up  from  one  of  these 
decovs.  at  three  rounds  each,  no  K'ss  than  eighty-eight  Canvas- 
backs.  The  Ducks  crowded  to  ikie  place  so  that  the  whole 
o]X'n  space  was  not  only  covered  with  them,  but  vast  numbers, 
waiting  their  turn,  stood  inactive  on  the  ice  around  it. 

The  Canvas-back  will  also  eat  seeds  and  grain  as  well  as 
marine  grass,  and  seems  (.'specially  fond  of  wheat,  by  which 
it  may  be  decoyed  to  particular  places,  after  continuing  the 
bait  for  several  days  in  succession.  The  loss  of  a  vessel  loaded 
with  this  grain,  near  the  entrance  ofCreat  l\gg  Harbor,  in  New 
Jersey,  attracted  vast  llocks  of  these  Ducks  to  the  spot,  so  that 
not  less  than  two  hundred  and  forty  were  killed  in  one  day  by 
the  neighboring  gunners,  who  assembled  to  the  spot  in  quest 


,  spurs  the 
ivhicli  may 
js  decoyed 
ed  for  the 
;.'oiig  the 
d  as  they 
)\vler  rakes 
e.  So  me- 
te J  wards  a 
iikI  keep- 
:,  or  head- 
enty  yards 
iseipiently 

rivers  be- 
iwards  the 
:ill  remain 
I  the  ice, 
l)tiri)(jse, 
L'm  uiiiiin 
itance  for 
L's  are  the 

openings 
o  Wilson, 
L'  of  these 
t  ("anvas- 
he   whole 

numbers, 


CANVAS-IJACK    DLCK. 


of  th 


339 


•-'se  strange  bird. 


neighbors   at  the   1 


which 


Wen 


without  the  feathers.     'I'h 
called  them,  —  fi 


ow  rate  of  twelv 


afteiwards  sold  anioiiL'  tl 


le 


e  am 


a    Iia 


if 


^■^^t'   Sea   Ducks,  as   th 


cents  apiece, 


rived.  — 


,  —  were  no  other  tl 


m  the  direction,  probabi 


'^"i   the  famous  C 


comrnonly  sold  in  the  I'h.hulelphia  mark 


t'  i^numers  then 
'1  which  they  ar- 
anvas-backs.  which 


V,  1 


a  doll 
hiLdu 


n  and 


half 


et  at  f 


])er  pair, —and  ind<rd 


'oni  a  d(,llar  t 


o 


th 


sometimes  much 


'■>'  ^^'"^  -scarce,  and  couMdered 


■■6>ier  prices  are  given,  when 
indispensable. 

-•y^'-itisabZu     r^^^^ 

•■>  ll'<--  fur  countries   anncari   -    i^^  U'e.sa]K>ake  liay.  an,!  breeds 

t'- iH.ik  of  the, locks  ti,;,,.:^,:::,^^^^  T"  ■"  ^'-^'"•'-'"- 

t>- lower  valley  of  the  Alaltri    ;-./'^T;H;rM-^  ^ 

fxtcnd  larther  to  the  soutlnvani  .1,,     V/     •  '"•'■'''"-■  ■"•^'^i  mav 

'vporte.l  tindin..-  ver v  v         ,   ,  '  ■^'•""•"''a,  tor  Dr.  Xewbcrr'v 

ti-  Cascade  M^J,  i,    ^ '  ^i'^;;;;.  "'^  '^'^-  T'  ^^•■^■^'■^-  ^"-^ 

vas-backs  are  said  to  be  v  ,  '       ^•''""'■'^'•'^-  '"  ^^1"^''  ••^■.^i"n  Can- 
^"v  other  w:U.m';1i  '      '"""''"''■        '""'■^'  •"""---  than 


s  well  as 
by  which 
lining  the 
el  loaded 
r,  in  New 
it,  so  that 
le  (lay  by 
in  quest 


f' 


i'  ' 


hii 


Ki;i)m:.\i). 

roc  HARD. 

A\  IHNA    AMI.RKAXA. 

CllAR.  Mantle  ami  sicks  silvery  white,  varied  with  fine  waved  lines  (>f 
(hisUy  ;  bellv  wliite  ;  liead  and  neciv  rich  eliestiuit  ;  lower  neck,  breast, 
and  rnni])  black;  winj^s  and  tail  slate  gray;  bill  dull  bluish  lilack,  ti|iped 
with  gray  ;  legs  and  feet  leaden  gray.  In  the  female  the  head,  neck, 
and  breast  are  gravish  brown,  and  the  markings  on  tlie  back  le>s  distinct 
and  of  a  browner  tint,     Length  17  to  21  inches. 

A't\\/.  Amid  the  rank  herbage  in  marshy  margin  of  stream  or  lake.  — 
sometimes  resting  upon  the  water  ;  made  of  grass  and  sedges  and  lined 
with  fe.ithers. 

/'-w*'-  7~'4  (nsiially  about  10);  pale  buff  or  creamy,  tinged  more  or 
less  with  olive  ;   2  40  X  175. 

Tlu"  Pochard,  so  ivarly  rclatrd  to  the  Canvas-back,  with 
which  it  generally  assov  itcs,  is  coininon  to  the  north  of  l)oth 
continents.  It  is  abundant  in  Russia  in  rivers  and  lakes  in 
uU  latitudes,  as  well  as  in  Denmark,  tl.e  north  of  (lerniany, 
and  as  a  bird  of  passage  is  seen  in  England,  Holland,  I'rance. 
Italy,  and  in  the  course  of  the  winter  proceetls  as  far  south  as 
V'gypt.      In    the  presi-nt  continent   these   birds  are   foiuid   to 


fr'S'' 


■s?*^.^: 


vaved  lines  of 

neck,  l)rcast. 

Mack,  tijipcd 

c  luail,  neck, 

k  less  distinct 

im  or  lake,  — 
[Iges  and  lined 

iniied  more  or 


s-back,  with 
lorth  of  both 
and  lakes  in 
of  (Germany, 
land,  l"'ranc-c', 
s  far  south  as 
\re   found   to 


REl)lli:.\i). 


341 


breed  ,n  all  p.irts  „f  the  fur  countries,   from   the  50th  parallel 
to  their  utmost  boreal  liuiits,  and,  du'ellinL;  in  fresh  waters   are 
seen  to  asso.-.ate  ^a.K-rally  with  the  Anati.vk,  or  proper  D.leks 
taknijr  to  the  sea   in  autumn   with  their  broods,  and  api.earinJ 
"iiHin   the    limits  of  the    Tnited   States   towards  the  Hose  o> 
October:    they  afterwards    spread   themselves  over  the    hays 
rivers,  and    freshwater  lakes  at   no  great  distance  from  the  sea 
In  tlic  Hay  ol  Chesapeake  and   its  tributarv  streams  thev  are 
now  seen  m  flocks  with  the  Camasdja.  ks,  a.i.l  feed  mu.'h  on 
the   same  kind  ot  submarine  grass,  or  wrack-weed,  on  winch 
they  become  very  fat,  ami  are  in  llavor  and  si/e  but  little  infe- 
rior to  their  companions,  — |,dn-  often,  in  tact,  both  sold  and 
eaten  tor  the  same,  without  tlie  aid  of  any  very  sensible  impo- 
sition.     In  the  months  of  I'Vbruary  and  March  thev  are  com- 
mon in  the   fresh  waters  of  \orth  an.I  .South  Carolina,  where 
many  pass  the  greater  part  of  the  winter;   thev  are  also  seen 
at   this    season    in   the   lower   part   of  the    Missi'ssippi,  around 
Nat<he/,  and  pn.hihlv  accmpanv  the  tlocks  of  th.'  pre.eding 
si)e(ies  near   New  Orleans.      Ilrisson's    Mexican    Pochard,   de'- 
s<Tibed    by    Fernande/,    is    also    in    all    probabilitv   the    same 
bird. 

'Ihe  Pochards  dive  and  swim   with  great  agilitv.     'I'hey  are 
in  i:nglan<l   sometimes  taken   in   the  «lecov  pools'  in  the  iisual 
manner  of  driung.  but  are  by  no  means  welcome  visitors  :   for 
by  their  c<mlinual  diving  they  disturb  the  rest  of  the  fowls  on 
the  water,  an.I  thus  prevent  their  being  enticed  into  the  tunnel 
nets;    nor  are   thev    willingly  decoyed  with    the   other    I  )u.  ks. 
Ihey  are   said   to  walk  awkwardly  and   with   difficultv.      It   is 
alsoad.led  that  their  cry  more  resembles  the  hollow  hiss  of  a 
serpent  than  the  voice  of  a   hinl.     Their  (light  is  more  rapid 
than  that  of  the  comm(m   Wild    I  )u<k,  and   the  noise   of  their 
wings  very  diflerent.      ihe  troop  forms  a  close  body  in  the  air  ; 
but  they  do  not  proceed  in  angular  lines  or  obev  anv  partic- 
ular lea-ler,  nor  have  they  any  .all  sufficient   for  the  purpose. 
On  their  first  arriv.il   thev  ,ire   restless  and  wat.  hfiil.  ali-hting 
on  the  water,   and   then   again  wheeling  and   recoimc.tnng  in 
the  air  for  some  time,  uncertain  in  the  c  hoice  of  their  move- 


I  ! 


IM 


i- 1 


[■I 


342 


s\\i.m,mi;ks. 


'^!i;|i' 


incnts.  The  only  lime  when  ihey  (an  be  approached  within 
gunshot,  like  so  many  (Jther  of  the  species,  is  al)out  daxhreak, 
from  an  ambush  or  the  slieher  of  s,)nie  conceahm'nt. 

In  tlie  l,on(l(jn  markets  these  I  )ucks  are  sulil  under  the 
name  of  Dim  Birds,  and  are  very  deservedly  esteemed  as  a 
deHcate  and  well-llaxored   i^ami-. 

Althou,yh  it  has  been  said  that  this  species  will  not  Vwv  \n 
(onfmement,  Mr.  Kennie  slates  tiiat  no  bird  appears  sooner 
reconciled  to  llie  menagerie  :  and  one  in  his  possesi^ion  whic  h 
had  bei'U  badi)  woundi'd  in  the  winglook  inuiu'diatelv  to  feed- 
ing on  oats,  and  at'u  r  three  veatN  coiinnenienl  appeared  \ery 
lame,  and  remained  in  good  health. 

'I'lu-  l<L'vllieail  is  generally  (listiilnited  llirmighout  Xorlh  Amer- 
ica, but  is  uiiconiiuon  or  rare  in  New  lin^laiul  and  the  a(lia(  eiit 
I'roxiures.  while  cumnion  to  abuiular.t  011  the  <  Ireut  Lakes  and 
westward,  it  breeds  from  .Maine  northward,  and  winters  in  Ches- 
apeake iiay.  and  south  to  the  shores  of  the  (iulf  of  Mexico. 

While  in  general  ajjpearance  tlii.s  biid  is  so  like  the  Canvas-back 
that  purchasers  are  riadilv  deceived  a>  to  the  s])ecies  the  market- 
man  is  offering  tluni.  vi't  the  dilference  is  so  pronounced  that  but 
little  care  is  retpiiied  to  select  the  more  delicately  flavored  of  these 
cousins.  In  the  Canvas-back  the  head  is  dark  broviU.  —  almost 
blackish  brown.  —  in  contrast  to  the  rich  chestnut  of  the  Redhead, 
and  the  bill  of  the  former  (lisi)lays  more  black  color.  The  shape 
of  the  head  is  dilferent  also,  that  of  the  Canvas-back  being  longer 
and  narrower. 


I'.i 


(I  within 
,;i\l»ri.Mk. 

IKKT    tlu' 

K(l  as  a 

)t  live  in 
s  soontT 
uu  whirh 
to  (Vl-(1- 
icd  \cry 

ih   AnuT- 

adjaiciit 

,akcs  and 

s  ill  Clies- 

nvas-hack 
lu  niarket- 
;l  that  hut 
d  of  thtse 
—  alnio.st 
Ncdhead, 
R'  shape- 
j;  lonyxT 


i  If 


'^^^>te:'^"" 


AMKRIC.W    SCAII'    DUCK. 
dk;  i!i..\(.Kiii:Ai>.    r.i  L■t■:l'.II.^. 
A^lIl\A    MAKII.A    MAk(  IK  A. 

Cir.\u.  Male:  licad,  nciU,  and  i)rca>t  hhu  k,  witli  ^rctii  reflcclions  ; 
hack  and  sides  wliitc,  marked  with  tine  wavii!  lines  of  hkick  ;  rnnip,  \vin'_;s, 
and  lail  brownish  lihiek  ;  wing-patcii  while;  l)eliy  wliilo,  pencilled  wiili 
black;  vent  and  nnder  tail-coverts  black;  bill  leaden  l)lue,  with  a  blai  k 
"  nail  "  at  the  tip  ;  1pj;s  ,u,ray,  feel  l)lackisli.  F(  inrde  :  ncnera!  plninaue 
of  npper  ])arts  dull  brown;  band  of  white  at  b;ise  of  bill;  \vin,Lj-i),itcli 
white. 

AV.V.  Amid  r:ink  herbaue  near  a  lake  or  stream  :  a  rude  structure  of 
loosely  laid  grass  and  sediies,  lined  with  fe;ithers. 

/'.';';■*.  6-10;  jiale  buff  tinned  with  olive.  —  sometimes  tinned  with 
drab;  2.55  X  1.70. 

'I'iiis  s])eries,  better  known  in  Anirrica  ])y  tlie  name  of  the 
Bhiehill,  is  another  general  inliabitant  of  the  whole  northern 
hemisphere,  passing  the  period  of  reproduction  in  the  remote 
and  desolate  iivperboreal  regions,  wluncc  at  tiie  ;ipi)ro:i(  h  of 
winter  it  issues  over  the  tein|)erate   p.irts  of  Ijirope  as  fir  as 


I    III  '>■' 


.'   ' 


344 


SWIMMKRS. 


i      jiji 


r  ::'it^?! 


ti 


France  ;ukI  Swit/erland,  and  in  tlic  L'nitcd  States  is  observed 
to  winter  in  the  Delaware,  and  ])rol)al)ly  proceeds  as  far  as  the 
waters  of  the  Southern  Slates,  havinj^  l)een  seen  in  the  lower 
part  of  Missouri  by  Mr.  Say  in  the  s])rinj;.  It  is  al)undant  also 
in  winter  in  the  Mississij^pi  around  and  below  St.  I.ouis.  The 
l)ree(Hn}i-])la(es  of  this  bird,  acconbiiLf  to  the  intelHi,a'nt  and 
indetali^Mble  Richardson,  are  in  the  remote  fur  (oinitries, 
from  tile  most  southern  pi^nt  of  Hudson  IJay  to  their  utmost 
northern  Hmits. 

The  Scaup  Duck  is  said  to  derive  its  name  from  feecHng  on 
scaup,  or  broken  shelbfisii,  tor  wliich  and  other  articles  of  sub- 
sistence, Mich  as  marine  insects,  fry,  and  marine  vegetal)les,  it 
is  often  seen  (Uving  witii  great  alertness.  It  is  a  common 
s])ecies  here  both  in  fresh  waters  and  bays.  ])articularly  fre- 
<|uenling  such  places  as  abomid  in  its  usual  fare,  and  like 
most  of  its  tribe  it  takes  advantage  of  the  accommodation  of 
moonlight.  These  birds  leave  the  Middle  States  in  .April  or 
early  in  May. 

lioth  male  and  female  of  the  S(mu])  make  a  similar  grunting 
noise,  and  have  the  same  singular  toss  of  the  head,  with  an 
openini:  of  the  bill  when  sporting  on  the  water  in  the  s|)ring. 
^\'hile  here  they  are  heard  occasionally  to  uUvr  a  guttural 
ijiiaih-k,  \ery  different  from  that  of  Common  Ducks.  In  a 
state  of  domestication  during  the  summer  months,  when  the 
larv;v  of  various  insects  are  to  be  tound  in  the  mud  at  the 
bottom  of  the  jjond  these  birds  tVetiuent,  they  are  observed  to 
be  almost  continually  diving.  They  feed,  however,  content- 
edly on  barle\'.  and  become  so  tame  as  to  come  to  the  edge  of 
the  water  tor  a  morsel  of  bread.  Mr.  Kennie  adds,  of  all  the 
a(|uatic  birds  we  ha\e  h;)d,  taken  tVom  their  native  wilds,  none 
have  ap])eared  so  tamiliar  as  the  Scaup.  The  flesh  of  this 
species  is  but  little  esteemed,  though  the  young  are  more 
tender  and  ]xilatable. 

The  I>luebil]  is  well  known  to  tlie  gunners  on  the  .Atlantic,  though 
more  conunon  to  tiie  soutliward  than  on  the  Xew  l^'ngland  siiores_ 
and  abundant  in  tlie  West' rn  interior.  It  lireeds  from  al)<)iit  lati- 
tude 50"  northward,  and  wiiUers  south  to  CeiUral  .America. 


s  observed 
far  ;is  the 
the  lower 
iidant  also 
uis.  'I'lu' 
li'Ki-'nt  and 
countries, 
'ir  utmost 

"ediiig  on 
:.'s  of  siib- 
itables,  it 
common 
larly  fre- 
and  like 
dation  of 
.\j)ril  or 

gnintiiinf 
with  an 

t>  sprinu;. 

iCUttural 

Jn   a 

hen  the 

1  at  the 

^■rved  to 
ontent- 
ed^e  of 

fail  the 

Is,  none 
of  this 

-'    more 


though 

sliores_ 

out  lati. 


LKSSKk    SCAl  I'   DICK.  ^45 


Jd:ssi:R  scAii'  dlck. 

LITTLE   liLACKIIKAI).     LITTI.K    lil.ir: IMLL. 
AvmSA    Ml  IMS. 

slr^'un  „'';""'?T' ""  •:  ;^''=^"^M'"l  "-^'llv  in  tl.e  mar>l.v  mar,i„  of  a 
M.can,  o,  HHui.  l„d  amid  the  ranker  hnl.a,^..  clc...  .„  ,Ik-  watu'^  rnv't- 
01  .i;rass  a.ul  wccl-stcn.s  and  lined  with  d„a„.  ' 

y\&:  6-9;  pale  dull  !)ult  tiii!j;cd  wilii  (,li\c  ;  2.2-^  X  I.60. 
The  slight  (liflcixiu-c  betuecM  this  bird  au.I  its  iar-cr  aliv  has 
c%auswl  stK:h  conftision  of  the  two  that  the  tiiMinctive  tHstrilu.tiou 
^xm\  liabits  of  the  prcsuU  species  |,:,s  uot  b.cn  detcrniiiu.l  P.o.I, 
arc  chisscd  with  the  Sea  Uuck.s.yct  both  In.iid  their  nests  bv  in- 
land waters  usually,  and  not  on  the-  sea-coast.  The  nests  a.e'.^en- 
ei-alyby  an  inlantl  .stream,  lu.t  Dr.  Uell  reports  limiing  severaf  on 
.Nottin.nhani  island,  in  Hudson  liav. 

01"  the  two  birds -the  ])resent  is  less  fivquentlv  found  on  salt 
\\ater  even  in  winter.  Durin-  the  mi-rations  it  is  mieommon  alon-- 
he  shores  of  .\ew  lin-land  and  the  I'nninces.  but  it  winters 
fartiier  south  than  does  the  lai-er  bird,  and  is  more  plentiful  on 
the  streams  and  ea-eeks  ninnin-  into  Chesapeake  liav  than  at  anv 
locality  to  the  northward.  It  is  verv  al)undant  alon-  the  lower 
valley  of  the  Missi.ssippi.  and  Dr.  Coues  re])orted  (indino-  i,  ai)undant 
on  tile  upj)er  .Missouri. 

.\n(lubon  considered  this  .species  could  be  approached  easily 
while  teedm,-:  but  the  examples  I  have  met  with  have  been  rather 
wary,  and  tliou,-h  they  rose  from  the  water  with  di^(icult^•  and 
therefore  rarely  took  win-  they  -enerallv  n,ana-ed  to  swim  out 
of  the  ranoe  ol   my  oyn. 

Authors  differ  as'  to  the  nri-in  ..f  the  name  -iven  to  these  birds 
some  referrintr  it  to  tl    ' 


th 


e  cry  is  respons 


ihic 


leir  loudness  for  mollusks,  while  others  think 
le  name,  whit  h  sounds  like  the  word 


tor 


sur/f/>,  delivered  by  a  harsh  voice  in  a  screami 
exceedingly  discordant. 


n-  tone. 


'Ih 


e  cry  i.s 


34<3 


SWl.MMKkS. 


i;  I 


k!N(;-xi;("Ki;i)    dick. 

KlN(i-l!ILLi:0  lil.ACKIll.AI).       Kl  N(  .-N  lU  K  111 !    lil.AL  K  1 1 KA  I ). 
MAK>11     lilli.lMl.l.. 

<  'il  \U.  rp|K  T  |i;iits  and  Im  ,i-l  hiack.  (lci.|iL>t  on  lliu  lic.ul ;  an  ninni^u- 
hiowii  inllai  nil  tlu'  iir>  k  ;  win,^-'  .-KiIl-  ,l;i  .ly,  w  iii,i;-pal(  li  hluihli;  uiii.lcr 
|).iils  wliiti'.  llauks  iiiaikicl  with  liiiu  waved  \\\w>;  l)ill  Uailcii  l)lin.'.  lipped 
will)  l)ia(  k,  and  with  snliici  iiiiii  d  ,ind  ha.^al  l)aiids  (.;'  paU'  hhie. 

■|'li(.-  Iniialc  larks  tlic  idll.ir  and  llif  waved  lini.>  on  lkink>  ;  liand  nf 
grasi.-h  wliit''  arnund  l)a-r  nf  lid  siiadin;^  tn  pure  while  <in  the  eliin  ; 
};eneial  tints  limwnish.      Length   in  tn  |S  Indies. 

.\'.>/.  (Oinialed  amid  iaid<  lierl)ai;e  in  leedy  iiiai,;;ins  ul'  a  ^tlealn  or 
pond;  made  nl  i^ia^s  and  liiu'il  witli  leatliei's. 

/'.'XX'S.     (j-iJ  ;  gravish  Imll  ;ir,,e.<-d  with  olive:   -Jj  X   i.Oo. 

'i'lie  Kini^-tiicked  I  )ti(  k  is  found  tliidii^hoiit  Noitli  Aiiieiica. 
hrecdiiiLi  linin  about  latitude  4;  tioithw  ard.  atul  wiiitei'in^  troin 
Cliesapeake  Ikiv  and  llie  lower  Ohio  to  tiic  West  Indies.  it  does 
iiui  a])i)ear  to  he  an  ahimdant  bird  anvwliere.  hut  is  mote  eom- 
nion  aloiii,'  the  vallev  ot  the  .Mississi]ij)i  than  near  the  Atlantic. 
where  it  is  so  uncommon  as  to  he  con>i(KTed  rare  h\  manv  local 
ornithologists.  .Mr.  IJoardmaii  writes  to  me  that  the  hiid  hreeds 
r,'i;ularlv  on  the  St.  L'foi.x  River,  and  is  not  iiiuommon  ahont  the 
nu)iitli  ot'  the  Hay  of  i-"undv.  1  had  im-t  with  it  elseuheri'  in  New 
Driinsw  iek.  hut  considered  it  rather  rare. 

Tlie  hahits  of  this  species  are  similar  to  those  of  othi'is  of  tlu' 
.urou]).  Its  food  consists  cliietlv  of  a(|uatic  insects  and  seeds.  \  aried 
W'itii  such  small  marine  animals  as  come  within  reach  of  its  hill. 
It  swims  atid  dives  with  ease,  and  its  tli^ht  is  strong  and  rapid  : 
and  as  it  rises  from  the  water  with  more  ease,  it  more  frequentlv 
attemi)ts  to  escape  from  a  pursuer  hy  flight  than  does  either  of  its 


iU 


lit   tlir 

n  .W'w 

of    till' 

varied 

S    l)ill. 

ra])i(l : 

lUMltlv 

of  its 

':m 


.-.?■■:■ 


'■■•ti- 


]'.rFFi,i:-iii:.\n. 

DIl'l'I'.K.     lU'  I  I  r;K-l!.\!.I..     SPIRIT    DICK. 

CiiAKiriiM  ri  \    \i  i;i  III  \. 

CllAU.  Pack,  rump,  and  ])ait  nf  \vin14s  lilack.  leniaiiuUr  of  wini;  wliitc, 
vaiifd  siiimwhat  with  Matk  ;  head  l)hu'k,  uitli  ljilcii  and  |nir|)li'  letk-r- 
tions  ;  a  triant;"lar  patch  nf  \vliitc  fioin  the  eyes  to  tlic  iiapc  ;  hiwcr  iu(  k 
and  under  parts  white  ;  tail  >lale  •j^v.w  ;  hill  leaden  hlne;  Kn-s  villdwish 
pink.  I.eni^tli  15  inches.  The  female  is  .••inalki,  witli  a  nenei.d  cnlof  of 
grayisli  ])ii)wn  and  a  white  patch  on  the  ciieeks  and  win^s.  \'()un.n  hirtls 
rcscml)le  the  female. 

N'l-sf.  In  a  Jiollow  of  ,1  tree  or  stump  near  a  pond  or  stream.  —  a  thick 
cush.ion  of  down  on  a  iilatforn)  of  decayed  wood. 

/■-.Cs'''''  '''-I4  (nsnallv  aliout  10)  ;  ivorv  white  nr  pale  l>iiff,  somelinies 
witli  a  tinjL^e  of  olive  ;  averajie  si/e  j.oo  X   1..15. 

This  very  elt'gnnt  little  l)tick,  so  rcinarkabU'  tor  its  expcrt- 
ness  in  divin;.,'  and  disaitpcaritiij;  from  the  sioht.  is  another  f)f 
those  species,  like  the  (lolden-eye.  to  which  the  al)ori4ines 
have  given  the  name  of  Spirit,  or  ("onjtirer,  from  the  impunity 
with  which   it  usually  escajies  at  the   llash  of  the  gun   or   the 


I"';'.      ' 


.u« 


s\viM.Mi;k>. 


i^ 


i  I 


twang  dftlu'  l)t)\v.  In  tlu'  suinnu-r  mmsom  it  i>,  mh-ii  abundantly 
un  risiTs  and  frcshwati-r  laki's  tlinmi^'lioiit  the  fur  coiintrirs, 
wlu'if  It  biiH'ds  in  Junr,  and  about  lliidM)n  liay  it  is  said  to 
make  its  nfsl  in  hollow  trrcs  in  tlu' wo(,ds  contiguous  to  water, 
—  ;i  provision  of  sonu'  iniportanct.',  |tr(»b:ibly.  iVoni  the  iinpo- 
tiiu  nianniT  in  wiiich  thr  birds  of  this  group  proceed  on  the 
groinid.  In  aulun\n  anil  winter  these  birds  are  situ  almost  in 
every  part  of  the  I'nion,  sonirlinies  lVei|UeiUing  the  seashores, 
but  more  particularly  riwrs  and  laki's.  'ihey  are  observed  in 
Missouri,  and  on  the  .Missishi|)pi  round  Natchez.  In  i'ebruaiy 
they  were  very  abundant  on  the  ri\er  Neuse  in  North  Carolina, 
in  tiie  vicinity  of  Newberii,  and  u-ed  to  di\e  \ery  dexti'rously 
and  perseveringly  in  cpiest  of  their  food,  whi(  h  at  that  tinu'  is 
])rincipally  lluviatile  and  submerged  vigclablrs,  particularly  tiie 
sea-wrack  ;  they  also  sonntimes  \  isil  the  bays  and  salt-marshes 
in  (|uest  of  the  laver.  or  L'l;\i  lactiicti,  a>  well  as  crustacea  and 
small  shell-fish,  'ihey  are  olten  e\(  (.'edingly  fat,  and  in  I'enn- 
sylvania  and  New  Jersey  are  commonly  known  by  the  ridiculous 
naim-  of  IWitter-llox,  or  llutter -Hall,  i'heir  tlesh.  however,  like 
that  of  the  preceding  species,  is  not  in  \\'\\  high  reipiest  for 
tin-  table  ;  but  the  femak's  and  young.  whi(  h  are  almost  the 
op.ly  kinds  that  \  isit  this  p.irl  of  .\Iass;;chusetts  in  winter,  are 
\ery  temler  and  wi'll   tbnored. 

In  I-'ebruary,  the  males  are  already  engaged  in  jealous  con- 
tests for  the  selection  of  their  mates,  anil  the  birds  are  then 
seen  assembled  in  small  llocks  of  both  sexes,  'i  he  drake  is 
now  heard  to  ijiitik,  and  seen  repeatedly  to  move  his  head 
ba(  kward  and  forward  in  the  frolicksome  huiiK^r  of  our  do- 
mestic Ducks:  and  by  about  the  middle  of  .\i)ril  or  early  in 
May  every  single  individual  will  have  (lisap])eared  on  its  way 
to  the  natal  regions  of  the  species  in  the  North. 

I'Voni  their  great  propensity  to  diving,  these  birds  are  com- 
monly known  in  the  C'arolinas  by  the  name  of  I)ii)i)ers;  when 
wounded  or  hit  with  a  shot,  they  will  often  dive  or  conceal 
themselves  with  such  art  that  they  seem  to  ha\e  l)uried  them- 
selves in  the  water,  and  probably  ot'ten  remain  wholly  submerged 
to  the  bill,  or  disappear  in  the  jaws  of  a  pike. 


AMKKirAN  (.(•!  i»i;n-i:vi:. 


349 


biindantly 
ctiuiiiriis, 
is  said  to 
to  wntt'r. 
lu'  iinpo- 
■<1  oil  tlir 
ilniost  in 
•a-sliorcs, 
scTvi'd  ill 
l''i'l)riiaiy 
Carolina, 
'.\ti'roM>,lv 
t  tiiiH'  is 
ilarly  tiu- 
-niarslu's 
ici-a  and 
in  IVnn- 
idiciiloiis 

L'VIT,  like 

iK'st  for 

nosl   tlu" 

Iter,  arc 

)iis  con- 
irc  tin  n 

rake  is 
lis   lie;id 
our  do 
early  in 

iis  way 

e  coni- 
;  when 
conceal 
them- 
"kiierged 


■  The  1UiIi1l-',u  ad  raii-ts  uwr  ihi.-.  entire  i  oiiliiuut,  breediii;^  from 
ahoiil  lalitiidu  45  northward,  ami  wiiileriny  Iidiii  Massaehu^i  tts 
and  iho  (deal  l,.ike>  soiiihw.ird  ;  it  is  nmre  abmidanl  in  the  \\\v^t 
tiian  near  tiie  Atlantie.  I'honipson  reports  it  a  cununun  Minuiier 
resident  id  M.initoh.i. 


AMi:ki('\.\  (.<>i,I)I:n-i:vi:. 

will- I  I.I.K. 
( ll.Ai  (  loNlli  A  ei.wi.ri  \    wiiklcWA. 

ClIAK.  M.ilc  :  ii|i|Kr  |),nis  l)l,ii  k,  tlii,'  lie.ul  willi  ,i;iccn  ic'tlectiiins  ;  a 
minui  pattli  hctwccii  tlu;  l>ill  .ind  ^  yi'>  ;  win.i^s  v  iricil  willi  uliiU';  Inwcr 
iicek  ami  niuKr  parts  wliiti.'  ;  l)ill  hKu  k  ;  Ir^is  and  Uct  uraiv^c,  with  dii^ky 
wcl)s.  Ia  iii;ili  H)  to  2^,  inclKs.  I'Viiialf  iippLr  parts  Imiwn,  haik,  hiiast, 
and  sides  varied  with  .i^r.iy  ;  l)clly  dull  wiiite;  wint;-palLh  white,  lnN, 
Kj^s,  and  iVet  dull  iiimiil;i',  wchs  dii-kv.  Sinallcr  than  the  male,  —  lc.ni;ih 
about  17  imliLS.     \'nniii4  birds  iLst-inbk   the  fiinaJL-. 

A'l's/.  Ii\  a  hollmv  Hue  01  stump,  ina<K' of  kavcs  and  moss,  and  lined 
with  down 

/'-.vv'-  ''"'-  •  Ij'iylit  giLcn  when  tie>h,  hut  fading  lu  a  tiuU  ashy  green  ; 
2.40  X  I.70- 

The  (lolden  eye  is  a  common  iidiabitant  of  the  ])oreal  re- 
gions of  l)oth  continents,  from  whence  it  migrates  in  small 
flocks  at  the  approach  of  winter,  accompanying  the  X'elvet, 
Surf  Dtick,  and  Scoter  in  their  desultory  route  in  (piest  of  sub- 
sistence. On  their  way,  soon  after  the  commencement  of  their 
adventtirotis  voyage,  these  birds  visit  the  shores  of  Iltidson 
Hay  and  congenial  lakes  in  the  interior,  on  which  they  linger, 
feeding  on  tender  and  small  shellfish  until  debarred  by  the 
invasion  of  frost.  They  breed  in  all  parts  of  the  desolate  and 
remote  fur  cotintries  in  great  numbers,  frecpienting  the  rivers 
and  freshwater  lakes,  on  whose  borders  they  pass  the  i)erio(l 
of  reproduction,  making  a  rude  nest  of  grass,  and  protecting 
the  necessary  warmth  of  thiir  eggs  by  a  layer  of  feathers  or 
down  plucked  from  the  breast. 

Although  furnished  with  a  remarkably  complicated  trachea  in 
the  male,  whence  the  name  of  CAn/j^/z/a,  we  cannot  learn  that 
they  ever  possess  any  audible  voice,     ^^'hen  flushed  they  rise 


350 


SWIMMKKS. 


iUi 


1.1 


li 


:^'l' 


.■J 


ih  I 


in  silence,  ami  \vc  then  only  hear,  instead  of  a  <r\  or  a  (luack, 
the  very  iJerceptihle  and  n/isy  whistiinii;  of  their  short  antl 
laborinj;  wings,  for  u'hich  reas  )M  they  .^re  here  sometimes  called 
by  our  gimners  the  IJrass-eyed  Wiiistlers.  Ii;  their  native  haunts 
they  are  by  no  means  shy,  allowing  the  sportsman  to  make  a 
near  iipproach,  as  if  conscious  a',  the  same  time  of  their  impu- 
nity tYjm  ordinary  peril,  for  no  sooner  do  they  ])erceive  the  tlash 
of  the  gun  or  hear  the  twang  of  the  bow,  than  they  di\e  with 
a   dexterity  whi(  Ii    sets    the   sportsman   at  defiance,  and  they 


continue    it    so  lonii   and   witl\  such   remarkalie  ^•...' 


that 


the  aboriginal  natives  have  nicknamed  them  as  conjur.ng  or 
"  Spirit  l)u<  ks." 

The  lood  of  the  (lolden-eye,  for  which  it  is  often  seen 
diving,  consists  of  shell  li.^h,  fry,  small  replilcM,  insects,  small 
Crustacea,  and  tender  marine  ])lants.  In  aU'l  near  fresh  wati-rs 
it  feeds  on  lluviaiile  vegetables,  such  as  the  roots  of  liijitisc- 
tiini  and  the  seeds  of  some  species  of  J\>/\y^(>/iiiiii.  Its  flesh, 
particularly  that  of  th  >  young,  is  generally  well  tlav'orcd,  though 
inferior  to  that  of  several  other  kinds  of  Ducks. 

In  Europe  these  birds  desc-end  in  their  migrations  to  the 
South  along  tlie  coasts  of  the  ocean  as  far  as  Italy,  where  they 
are  known  by  die  name  of  Qiiafir'  Ocilti,  or  "  l'\)ur  Myes,"  'iom 
the  two  round  and  white  s])ots  placed  near  the  corners  of  the 
bill,  which  at  a  distance  give  almost  the  appearance  of  two 
additional  eyes.  They  likewise  pass  into  the  central  parts  of 
the  Continent,  and  visit  the  great  lakes  of  Switzerland.  They 
are  e(|ually  common,  at  the  same  season,  in  most  ]")arts  of  the 
United  States,  as  far  ])rol)al)ly  is  th''  extremity  of  the  I'nion, 
and  early  in  spring  they  are  again  seen  in  Missouri  and  on 
the  wide  bosom  of  the  Mississippi,  jireparing  to  depart  for  their 
natal  regions  in  the  North.  Though  they  fly  with  vigor,  from 
the  shortness  of  their  legs  and  the  am])leness  of  the  webs  of 
their  fei't,  the  (  langulas  walk  badly  and  with  pain  ;  they  ad- 
vap.ce  only  by  jerks,  and  striki'  the  ground  so  strongly  with 
their  broad  feet  :  nat  each  ste|)  i^roduces  a  noise  like  the  slap- 
ping of  the  hands  ;  the  wings  are  also  extended  to  retain  an 
e(iuilibriui.i,  and  if  hurried,  the  awkward  binl  falls  on  its  breast 


l!Akk()\V'>    l,f)LI)K\-i:\F 
and  .tretchc.  its  K-a  out  bdnnd.      Horn  onlvlor  the  wat..-  the- 

t  but  to  dry  u.d.  auh.ic   .n  the  an.  and   nnmcl.atdv     It 
returns  to  its  natural  d.nunt.  " 

The    WhiMlers  are   e.„ninon  tlu(.UL;h.,ut   the   cuuntrv    l„-      r 


HARROW  s    (;()|.I)|.;.\_|,;v|,; 

KUCKV    MOLXTAIN    (..  ,L1„,X-KVK.      WIIISTLKR. 
Cil.UelONKITA    Isi.AMiK    \ 

characteristic.  "^  ^'"  •'"'>■  '''^tino„isinnn 

In  Iial)its  the  two  speeit-s  d.,  not   rh'tTcr  l„,t   .1, 

Uu-  s,„„l,  as  M,,s.saclu,„.m  '  '  '   '■"'■'>■  »"■"  »" 


i:  .  IS 


il 

iii, 

I 

'( '■* 


•X<^--^;-f^ 


-feS' 


"C^^i^SS^'^ 


H.\Ri,i;(,)riN  nrcK. 

LORD   AM)    L.\l)\. 
lIlSIKIONIClS    IlISIKloNirCs. 

("mar.  Male  :  u|)]Hr  parts  chielly  liluisli  l)lacl<,  tlic  \viiif,'s  varied  with 
wliitc  ;  wing-patcli  purple;  stripes  i>\  white  on  licad,  iieik,  and  breast; 
stripes  of  chestnut  on  sides  of  crown  ;  lireasi  and  bellv  t;ravi>h  brown, 
sides  chestnut;  bill  bluisli  black;  let^s  and  feet  leadin  blue  I.enj^th 
about  17  inches.  The  female  smaller  and  of  a  ueneral  grayish  brown 
color  al)ove  ;  land  of  white  around  base  of  hill;  belly  dull  white. 

/\<'.f/.  Usually  on  the  ground  close  to  a  stream,  —  sometimes  in  a  hol- 
low tree  ;  made  of  };rass  and  sedges  and  lined  with  fcatheis, 

/'.,V;''t'.     6-10;  warm  cream  color,  often  tin<;e(l  with  olive  :  2.^0  X      70. 

This  singularly  marked  ami  beautiful  sperits  is  almost 
a  constant  resident  of  the  hyperboreal  regions  of  the  nfirth- 
ern  hemisphere,  from  whii  ii  it  migrates  hut  short  distances 
towards  more  temperate  latitudes,  and  is.  as  in  l'!iiro])e,  a  rare 


■-,■'■ '  • 


-*:■.-„■ 


-i^=- 


uiLil  with 
lirciist ; 

I,cni;th 
sli  l)r()\vn 

in  a  liol- 

X      70- 

almost 

nortli- 

listanccs 

a  rare 


lIARl.i:()n\    DUCK. 


353 


and  almost  accidental  visitor  as  tar  as  the  Middle  States  of  the 
Union.  It  is,  however,  more  fre(Hient  in  llasteru  Ijirope  up  to 
(Ireenland,  and  lomm.in  from  Lake  Uaikal  to  Kamtschatka. 
Now  and  theli  it  is  killed  in  Scotland  and  the  ()rkne\s.  Dr. 
ivichanUon  found  il  to  be  a  rare  biril  in  the  fur  countrie.^, 
haunting  eddies  under  cascades  and  rajiid  streams,  where  il 
dwells  and  breeds  apart  from  all  other  Ducks.  In  Kam- 
tschatka it  alll-cts  the  same  retired  and  remarkable  rom.uilic 
situations.  Like  tiie  .\lpine  Cinclus,  it  prefers  the  mo-,t  rocky 
and  ai^ilated  torrents  :  in  such  situations  it  has  been  seen  in  the 
rivulets  of  Hudson  l!ay  at  as  great  a  distance  as  ninetv  miles 
inland  from  the  sea.  Here  it  seeks  out  its  apjtrojjriate  fare  of 
spawn,  shell-i'ish,  and  the  lar\;u  of  a([uatic  or  lluviatile  insects. 
On  the  hnv  bushy  and  shady  banks  of  these  streams  it  ( on- 
structs  its  nest,  and  (Ui  the  margins  of  freshwater  jionds  in  La- 
brador Mr.  Audubon  also  observed  this  species;  an<l  he  remarks 
that,  instead  of  rearing  its  voU'\g  in  the  same  situations  <  hosen 
for  breeding,  as  with  the  \'el\et  and  Surf  l)u(k,  it  conducts 
its  brood  to  the  sea  as  soon  as  the\-  are  hatched.  Its  llight  is 
high  and  swift,  and  it  swims  and  di\es  with  the  utmost  dex- 
terity. So  great  is  its  conndence  in  the  security  of  its  most 
natural  element  that  on  the  re])ort  of  a  gun  o\er  tln'  water  it 
instantly  quits  its  llight  and  di\('s  at  once  with  the  cfleril\  of 
thought.  It  is  said  to  be  c  lamoroii^,  and  that  its  voi(  r  is  a 
sort  of  whistle  ;  the  anatomx'  of  the  trachea  is,  however,  un- 
known, and  we  camiot  ti'll  whether  this  sibilation  be  really 
produced  from  the  thror.t  or  the  wings,  as  in  the  (  ase  of  the 
Common   (langula.  or  (ioliK-n  eye. 

Driven  from  tl'.cir  so'.itarv  resorts  in  tile  interior  bv  the  in- 
vasion of  frost,  iht'se  bu.'s  are  now  seen  oiu  at  sea  engage(l 
in  obtaining  a  difli'rcnt  moiir  of  subsistence.  Amidst  these 
icy  barriers  thev  still  continue  to  endure  the  rigors  of  winti  r, 
continuallv  rtceding  firthcr  out  to  sea,  or  making  limited  and 
almost  accidental  visits  to  milder  regions.  \\  lieu  discoxered, 
they  displav  the  utmost  \igi'an(  e,  and  instantly  t.iki'  to  wing. 

'I'his  bird  is  considered  to  be  game  superior  in  tlavnr  to  the 
Common  Wild  Duck.     I'lom  the  singular. nid  beauritul  (  ies(  ent- 

VOL.    it.   21, 


m  ' 


I 


•:*> 


f      ' 


354 


SWIMMKKS. 


sliapcd  lines  and  marks  which  ornament  its  neck  and  l)reast, 
it  has  probaljly  come  l)y  tlie  di^Miilled  appelkition  (jf  Lcn/ 
.among  the  fishers  of  Xeutoiindland.  It  is  here  t(jo  rare  to 
have  ac(iaired  any   parliciihir   name. 

'Ihc  llarle<|iiin  breeds  troiii  Newlbinulland  to  his^h  Arctic  re- 
gions, and  winters  suutli  to  tlie  .Mitldle  Atlantic  States  and  the 
Ohio  \allev.  It  is  common  diirini;  die  winter  niondis  in  t!ie  Bay  of 
Fundy.  and  rare  in  Massacluisett?  and  the  Circat  Lake  rcsrion.  In 
the  Rocky  Mountains  it  lias  i)e(.n  known  to  breed  in  latitude  49°. 

The  la\orite  r/s(>rt  in  suiiinier  ot  these  birds  is  on  the  swift  cur- 
rents ol  a  rapid  and  secluded  stream,  or  the  surtiinii;  jxiol  at  the 
base  of  a  fall.  In  winter  tlu'y  are  found  in  tlie  bays  and  estuaries 
on  the  sea-coast.  Tlu'y  swim  buoyantly,  and  dive  with  ease.  'I'lu-ir 
flight  is  swift  antl  powerful,  and  l)eing  sliyand  vigilant,  they  are  not 
easily  shot. 

1  have  met  with  these  handsome  watcriowl  in  winter  only,  and 
in  but  one  localitv,  -  Mace's  l>ay,  on  the  western  shore  of  the  Day 
of  Fundy.  The  ]laile(|uiiis  gathered  there  did  not  apjjcar  to  be 
the  solitary  and  unsociable  birds  that  many  writers  have  repre- 
sented th."n  .  I  frecjuently  saw  flocks  of  ten  or  more,  and  usually 
found  these  in  company  with  Old  Scpiaws,  —  dicir  rivals  in  wari- 
ness an<l  rai)id  lliglit.  Wlieii  api>roaching  the  bar  at  Mace's  liay, 
on  wliicli  during  the  sninning  season  there  is  generally  a  danger- 
ous array  of  tirearms,  these  mi.\ed  tlocks  slacken  their  pace  *<n  two 
or  three  hundred  yards,  and  when  within  range  increase  theirspeed, 
and  go  over  the  bar  .so  swiftly  that  but  few  shot  hit  them. 


1*$ 


1  ! 


I  ■ 


1*    '.' 


1(1  l)reast, 

(jf  Lord 

o  rare  to 


Arctic  rc- 
's  and  the 
tlic  Bay  of 
cgion.  Ill 
ludc  49°. 
•  swill  cur- 
K)()l  at  llic 
d  estuaries 
ise.  Their 
iiv  are  not 

r  oidy.  and 
of  the  Hay 
pear  to  he 
luue  repre- 
and  usually 
als  in  wari- 
.1  ace's  liay, 
V  a  dancer- 
ice  <"oi  two 
lieir  speed, 


'-^■i-y 


"-'.V'     '     '■  SVj"  *  j^'^>-Ht?^^^^^4i5^/<*^. 


OT,l)  SQUAW. 

LONG-TAILKD    DUCK.     S(  )U->()L' llllCKLV.     COCKAWEI':. 
CJ.ANcai.A    IIVi:.MAI.IS. 

CHAK.  Male:  b.ick.  rinn[),  and  tail  black,  the  central  tail-feadiers  very 
long;  crown  and  neck  white;  cliecks  hrownisii  j;ray,  and  below  the  gray 
a  i)atch  of  brown  :  breast  and  wings  black,  the  wings  varied  with  wiiite  ; 
belly  white  ;  bill  pale  pink,  nail  and  base  black  ;  legs  and  feet  leaden  blue, 
the  webs  diaker.  Length  20  to  j;;  inches;  middle  tail-feathers  8  to  9 
inches.  'I'he  female  has  the  crcnvn  and  ni)pcr  parts  d.uk  brown  ;  a  dark 
stiipe  behind  the  eyes;  under  parts  wiiite;  tail  without  long  leathers. 

\t\<t.  Concealed  under  a  bn>h,  sometimes  amid  a  tnssock  of  rank 
herbage, — made  of  a  few  weed-stems  ami  some  grass,  and  thicklv  lined 
with  down. 

-'^'W-f-     5-7;  P^Ic  grayish  green,  soiiietiines  greenish  biilT;  J. 10  X   1.50. 

'I'his  elegant  ami  noisy  Duck,  known  so  t^fcnerally  in  the 
Southern  States  by  the  nickname  of  "  Soutii-SotithiTly,"  from 
its  note,  and  in  most  other  parts  by  the  ajjpellation  of  "  Old 
Siiiiaw's,"  or  "  (^Id  Wives."  is  an  Arctic  inhabitant  of  both  con- 
tinents, and  abotinds  in  the  glacial  seas  of  America,  where  it 
is  seen  commonly  ;issoci:ited  with  the  I'ader,  Surf,  IJlack,  and 
other  Ducks  of  congenial  habits,  who  invariably  jirefcr  the 
frail  but,  to  them,  ])ro(liictive  dominion  of  tlie  se;i  to  the  land 
or  its  more  peaceful  waters.     So  strong  is  the  ])redilection  of 


356 


SWI.MMKRS. 


i     '•■f, 


f    ' '  ' 


I 


IM  I 


tliis  sjjccics  for  its  rri^iil  nalal  (liiius  and  thtir  icy  barriers 
tiiat  it  is  seen  to  liiiLjir  in  the  north  as  lont;  as  the  cxislent  c  of 
any  open  water  can  i)e  ascertained.  W  hen  the  critical  monienl 
of  departure  at  leni^lli  approat  lies,  coninion  wants  aiul  general 
feeling  begin  so  far  to  prevail  as  to  iniite  tlie  scattered  families 
into  numerous  Hocks.  'I'liev  now  proceed  towarcls  the  Soutli, 
and  making  a  hall  on  the  shores  and  inland  lakes  round  Hud- 
son i!ay,  remain  until  again  reluctantly  driwn  towanls  milder 
climi's.  They  are  the  last  birds  of  passage  that  lakt-  lea\e 
of  the  ftu'  countries.  l''amiliar  with  cold,  and  onlv  dri\en  lo 
migrate  lor  food  in  the  latter  v\m\  of  August,  when  ;ilready  a 
thin  crust  of  ice  is  seen  forming  in  the  night  o\er  the  si  ill  sur- 
face of  the  .\retic.  Sea.  the  femili'  Ilarelda  is  obserwd  inge- 
niously breaking  a  way  with  lur  wings  fir  the  egress  of  her 
young  brood. 

Acconling  to  the  state  of  the  weather  we  conMiiuentlv  cj^ 
serve  the  \ariable  arrival  of  ihest.'  birds.  In  ( )<  to|)er  thiey 
generally  \k\\  us  a  visit,  the  old  ahead)  clad  in  the  more  daz- 
zling garl)  of  winter.  The  yoimg  sometimes  seek  out  the 
shelter  of  the  freshwater  pcjnds,  but  the  old  keep  out  at  sea. 
No  place  in  the  I'nion  so  abounds  with  these  gab])lers  as  the 
r>ay  of  { 'hesai)eake.  They  are  liveK,  restless,  and  gregarious 
in  all  their  mo\ements,  and  ll\-.  dive,  and  -wim  wilh  unriv;ilK'd 
dexterity,  and  subsist  chielly  upon  sniall  nIuII  fish  and  marine 
])lants,  particularly  the  /.i>s/tTa,  or  grass-wrack,  l.ate  in  the 
evening  or  early  in  the  morning,  towards  spring  more  panic  u- 
larly,  vast  flocks  are  seen  in  the  bavs  and  sheltered  inli'ts,  and 
in  calm  and  foggy  weather  we  hear  the  loud  and  blendt'd 
nasal  call  reiterated  tor  hours  from  the  motley  multitude. 
'I'hcre  is  st)mething  in  the  sound  like  tlv.'  honk  of  ihe  ( ioosc, 
and  as  far  as  words  tan  express  a  subject  so  uncouth,  it 
resembles  the  guttural  s\llal)les  \i':/i  <'//^//  /•>;//,  and  then  '(';■•// 
<>o;//  Oi^h  (>//i^'/i  cg/i,  given  in  a  ludicrous  drawling  tone  ;  but  still, 
with  all  the  accompaniments  of  sceni"  and  season,  this  humble 
harbinger  of  spring,  obeying  the  feelings  of  nature  and  pouring 
forth  his  final  ditty  before  his  departure  to  the  distant  North, 
conspires,  together  with  t!ie  novelty  of  his  call,  to  please  rather 


;y  barriers 
■xisteiK  (-■  of 
al  niomcnt 
iiul  griKTal 
If! I  familus 

tlic  South, 
ounil  Iluil- 
inls  milder 

\.\kc  leave 
V  driven  to 
n  alreaily  a 
ihr  ^lill  snr- 
,(.'r\ril  inL!;e- 
'jv^n  ot   her 

■(lueiuly  dl)- 
.  li)l)i'r   tht-y 
e  more  <laz- 
■vk    oui    the 
1)  out  at  sea. 
l)U'r>  as  the 
nrruarious 
1  iinrivalle(l 
and  marine 
l.ate    in   thi- 
)re  i)arlieu- 
inlets,  and 
id   blended 
multitude, 
die  ( loose, 
mcondi.    it 
then   V'i,'// 
;   but  still, 
lis  humble 
ud  pom-ing 
tant  North, 


1 


OI.I)    S<)L'A\V. 


357 


than  disgu>it  those  happy  tew  who  may  br  willing  •'  to  find 
good  in  e\erything."  His  pe(  uliar  (  ry  is  wtll  known  to  the 
ab(jriginal  >ons  of  tlu'  forest,  and  among  the  ("rees  the  species 
is  railed  '//</// -//(/-vi 'in,  —  so  nuic  h  like  the  syllables  1  have 
giwn  al)o\c  th.ii  many  might  imagine  my  additions  no  more 
liian  a  vtr>ion  of  tlu'  ^.anit  .  but  1  may  |)erhaps  be  allowed  to 
^ay  that  tlu'  notes  1  had  takt.ii  on  the  subje-'  were  made  two 
\ears  i>rr\ious  !>>  the  pulili(  ation  of  I  )r.  Richardson's  ''/ool- 
ogy," whence  1  learn  \h\>  coiiicidi  ik  c  of  the  name  and  sound 
as  gi\(.n  by  the  aborigines  of  the  North.  '\'\\'\>  I  )uck  is  no  less 
known  to  the  (  anadian  voyagers,  who  ha\e  celebrated  it  in 
their  >imiile  effiiNions  b\  the  name  of  the  "("ackawee." 

In  the  course  of  the  winter  tia-  l.ong-tailed  I  )ucks  wander 
out  into  the  bays  and  inlft>  nearl\-  if  not  (juite  to  the  extremity 
of  the  I  niled  States  coa^Ts  :  and  in  the  s])ring.  voyaging  along 
the  unniflled  bosom  of  the  great  .Missis>i|)pi  with  the  many 
thousands  of  other  witer  foul  wliic  h  penetrate  by  this  route 
into  the  interior,  we  find  aimuig  tlu'  (  rouding  throng  some 
small  (locks  of  the  jireseiit  spec  les.  who  proi  ted  as  far  as  the 
banks  ol'  the  Missouri.  In  Spit/lierL;en,  b  fluid,  and  along 
liu'  grassv  shores  of  llndson  Day.  ihev  make  their  nests  about 
the  midiik'  of  bnie.  lining  the  interior  with  the  down  from 
their  breasts,  wliieji  is  eiiualiv  soft  and  elastic  with  that  pro- 
duced  b\'   the    l.i(K'r. 

'I'lu'se  birds  abound  in  (ireenland,  l.aplaiKl,  Ku-sia.  and 
Kamt^clialka.  are  seen  about  St.  Petersburg,  and  from  ( )cto- 
bei-  to  .\])ril  man\-  tlocks  p  iss  the  winter  m  the  ()rkneys, 
Tliev  are  onlv  accidental  \isitots  on  the  ('ire.U  lakesin(ier- 
manv  and  along  the  borders  of  the  jJaltie,  and  are  often  seen, 
but  never  in  lloc  ks.  upon  the  maritinu'  coasts  of  Holland. 
The  llesh  of  the  old  binls  is  but  little  esteemed.  )et  that  of  the 
voting  is  prettv  gooil  tood. 

The  Old  Scpiaw  hrecds  at  e.vtremelv  high  latitucl.s,  being  more 
Arctic  ill  its  distrihution  than  .iiiv  other  spec  ies  of  DiuT.  Ft  win- 
ters in  nunihers  aioii^  the  coast  of  snutli  ( ireenland.  .iiicl  is  eoininon 
all  aloii"  the  .Atlantic  to  tiie  .Snulliern  .Slates. 


ase  r: 


ither 


r 


358 


SWIMMKRS. 


»    ; 


:!'  •». 


J 


AMERICAN    M llRdAXSKR. 

r.OOSANDEK.     I!L'FF-1JKI:ASTI:I)    SIIKLLDKAKE.     SAW-IMLL. 

M i.Kt ;ansi;k    am \.\<h  \si>. 

Char.  Head  and  neck  hlaeU,  with  green  leflections  ;  IkicU  and  seapn- 
hirs  black  ;  runij)  slate  ,nray  ;  \viny>  brown,  xaiied  with  white  ;  a  black  liar 
cicioss  the  wiiite  wing  coverts  ;  under  parts  white,  tinged  with  delicate 
salmon  jiink,  which  soon  lades  al'ler  death  ;  bill  bright  reil  ;  legs  and  leet 
orange.  Length  about  26  inches.  The  female  is  smaller,  the  he, id  and 
neck  are  chestnut,  .ind  the  leathers  (jf  the  neik  are  elongated  to  a  con- 
Spictions  crest. 

A'i'.f/.  Usually  in  a  hollow  tree,  —  often  in  a  wooden  box  set  for  its  use 
by  egg-hunters;  s^jiiietimes  in  a  hole  in  a  cliff  or  under  a  rock,  or  even  in 
an  abandoned  nest  in  a  tree;  made  of  grass,  leaves,  and  moss,  and  thickly 
lined  with  down. 

/iVvx  6-12  (usually  about  S)  ;  creamy  white  ;  si/e  very  variable,  aver- 
age about  2.65  X  I. 'So. 

The  (loosnider  inhabits  tlio  remote  northern  reLi;ions  of  both 
continents,  being  seen  (hiring  siiniiiier  on  the  borders  of  grassy 
lakes  and  streams  throiighcjiit  the  whole  of  the  fur  countries, 
and  is  among  the  latest  of  its  tribe  in  autimin  to  seek  an 
asylum  in  milder  climates.  It  is  said  to  breed  in  every  lati- 
tude in  the  Russian  empire,  but  mostly  in  the  north.  It  is 
common  also  in  Kamtschatka.  and  e.\tends  through  northern 
Kurope  to  the  wintry  shores  of  Iceland  and  (Ireenland.  Manv 
of  these  birds,  however,  pass  the  breeding-season  in  the  Ork- 
neys, and  these  scarcely  ever  find  any  necessity  to  inigrate. 
'I'hey  are  seen  in  small  families  or  companies  of  six  or  eight  in 
the  United  States  in  winter,  and  frequent  the  sea-shores,  lakes, 
and  rivers,  continually  diving  in  cpiest  of  their  food,  which  con- 
sists princi])ally  of  fish  and  shelly  mollusca.  'I'hey  are  also 
very  gluttonous  ,ind  voracious,  like  the  Albatross,  sometimes 
swallowing  a  fish  too  large  to  enter  whole  into  the  stomach, 
which  therefore  lodges  in  the  (esoph;igus  till  the  hnver  ])art  is 
digested,  before  the  remainder  can  follow,  i'he  roughness  of 
the  tongue,  covereil  with  incurved  projections,  and  the  form  of 
the  bent  serratures  which  edge  the  Itill.  a]ii)ear  all  purposely 
contrived  with  reference  to  its  pis<'atory  habits.     In  the  course 


.1 
If 


AMKRKAX   M KRGANSKR. 


359 


of  the  season  thjse  birds  migrate  probably  to  the  extremity  of 
the  L'nion,  beiny  seen  in  winter  on  tlie  Mississippi  and  Mis- 
souri, from  wlitnce  at  the  approach  of  spring  they  migrate 
north  or  into  the  interior  to  breed. 

'I'he  (loosander  is  seen  to  freipient  the  coast  only  in  the 
depUi  of  winter;  and  in  its  remote  resorts  in  the  North  it  fears 
the  cold  nuuh  less  than  the  ice,  as  when  that  api)ears,  its  sup- 
ply c>f  (iH\\  is  necessarily  cut  off.  'I'he  extent  of  the  breei ling- 
range  of  this  species,  as  of  that  of  many  other  retiring  birds,  is 
yet  far  from  being  sufficiently  ascertained.  I!arly  in  the  month 
of  May  ([832),  while  descending  the  Susquehanna  near  to 
Dunnstown,  a  few  miles  below  the  gorge  of  the  .Mleghanies, 
through  which  that  river  meanders,  near  the  fool  of  the  liald 
lOagle  Mountain,  (1.  Lyman,  Mscp,  and  myself  observed  near 
the  head  of  a  little  bushy  island  a  wild  Duck,  as  we  thought, 
with  lier  brootl  making  off  rouml  a  point  which  closed  the 
view.  On  rowing  to  the  spot  the  wily  ])arent  had  still  con- 
tinued her  retreat,  and  we  gave  chase  to  tiie  party,  which  with 
all  the  exertions  that  could  be  made  in  rowing  still  kept  at  a 
respectable  distance  before  us.  We  now  perct.'ive<l  that  these 
diminutive  possessors  of  their  natal  island  were  a  female 
Goosander,  or  Dun- Diver,  with  a  small  but  acti\e  little  brood 
of  eight  young  ones.  On  pushing  the  chase  for  near  half  an 
hour,  the  young,  becoming  somewhat  fatigued,  drew  arounci 
their  natural  i)rotector,  who  now  and  then  bore  them  along 
crowding  on  her  back.  At  length,  stealing  nearly  from  our 
sight  as  the  chase  relaxed,  the  mother  landed  at  a  distance  on 
the  gravelly  shore,  which,  being  nearly  of  her  own  gray  color 
and  that  of  her  family,  served  for  some  time  as  a  com])lete  con- 
ceahiient.  When  we  approached  again,  however,  mother  and 
brood  took  to  the  water,  and  after  a  second  attempt,  in  wliich 
the  young  strove  to  escajie  by  repeated  divings,  we  succeeded 
in  cutting  off  the  retreat  of  one  of  the  famil},  which  was  at 
length  taken  from  behind  a  flat  boat  under  which  it  had  finally 
retreated  to  hide.  We  now  examined  the  little  stranger,  and 
found  it  to  be  a  young  Merganser  of  this  species  not  bigger 
than  the   egg  of  a  (loose,   and   yet  already  a  most  elegant 


'  I 


i; 


M 


UV' 


^'; 


360 


SWIMMERS. 


epitome  of  its  ffiiiaK-  jjiirciit,  geniT;ili\'  j^'ray,  with  tiic  rufous 
head  and  neck  and  tiic  nidinicnts  of  a  ^rowmj;  crest.  After 
suffering  itself  to  be  examined  with  L^real  calmness  and  without 
any  apparent  fear,  we  restored  it  to  its  more  natural  element, 
and  at  the  first  effort  this  little  diminulixe  of  its  species  Hew 
under  the  water  like  an  arrow,  and  comini;  out  to  the  surface 
only  at  considerable  distances,  we  soon  lost  sight  of  it,  making 
good  its  iuiuatie  retreat  in  (|uesl  of  tiie  parent.  ( )n  in(|uiry  we 
learned  from  the  tavern-keeper  that  for  several  years  ])ast  a 
nest  or  brood  of  thi'se  birds  had  annuallv  been  seen  near  this 
solitary  and  secluded  inland.  In  such  situations,  ])robabIy, 
escaping  the  ol)ser\ation  of  man,  many  of  these  birds  spread 
through  the  country  and  breed  from  Pennsylvania  to  the 
remotest  parts  of  the  Canadian  fur  countries. 

Tliis  bird  is  not  found  in  abundance  in  any  part  of  our  tem])crate 
regions,  but  it  breeds  (si)aringly)  about  latitude  45',  and  thence  to 
the  fur  countries, — probably  to  the  limit  of  forests.  It  winters 
niostl}  on  the  eoast  from  New  IJrunswiek  to  the  Southern  .State.s. 


lii'hl!' 


RKi)-nRi:.\sri:i)  mI'Rc.wskr. 

SlIl-.I.I.DKAKi:. 
Mi:K(iANSl'.R    SI.RKAIOR. 

(11  \R.  Head  black,  with  grccii  rcllcctioiis,  the  feathers  of  tiie  u;\]ie 
cloiiiiated  ti)  a  c()nsi)iciii)iis  ciest ;  while  collar  on  the  neck  ;  back  hlack  ; 
wings  mostly  white,  the  outer  feathers  black;  in  front  of  the  wings  a  tuft 
of  white  feathers  broadly  edged  with  black:  breast  pale  chestnut,  streaked 
with  1)lack  ;  lielly  white  :  bill  red  ;  legs  and  toes  reddish  orange.  Ixngth 
20  to  25  inches. 

The  female  is  smaller,  and  has  the  head  and  neek  reddisii  brown,  — 
ahnost  similar  in  coloration  to  the  female  avtericaiins. 

A\'sl.  Ciencrally  on  an  inland  island  or  the  bank  of  a  secluded  stream, 
placed  under  cover  of  a  bush  or  roi-k,  or  concealed  amid  rank  herbage; 
usually  made  of  grass,  heather,  or  leaves,  and  lined  with  down.  .Some- 
times the  fust  eggs  are  laid  on  the  bare  ground,  and  down  gradually 
tucked  about  them. 

/V;fj,'x  6-12  (usually  about  9)  ;  olive  gray  or  pale  drab,  tinged  with 
green  ;  2.60  X  1.70. 


i 

■, 

!. 

KL:i)-i;Ki:A>ri:i)  .mi;r(.ansi:u. 


3^^ 


lie  ii;i]ie 
l)lack  ; 

;s  a  tuft 
1  leaked 
.cnglh 

(IWII,  — 

stieani, 

:il)ajj;c ; 

Some- 

achi.illy 

(1  with 


This  MiTgnnscr  is  ;ig.iin  unotluT  giMH'r.il  inliahitant  of  the 
wiiolc  northrni  iK'mis])hiri.',  spreading  itsilf  in  lliu  smnnicr 
season  thruiigiiout  the  remote  t'lir  eoiiiitries  and  western  in- 
terior, from  whenee,  at  the  apprt-ac  h  and  ihiiing  the  continu- 
ance of  winter,  it  niigr.ite^  towards  thi'  sea-eoast  in  i|Ui'st  of 
open  water  and  the  necessary  means  of  subsistence.  '\'hv  Ked- 
l)reasted  MiTgansirs,  e(iuall)-  common  in  lairope  as  in  North 
America,  are  seen  as  fir  a^  Icelantl.  l)ree(i  in  (ireenland,  and 
inlial)it  most  parts  of  tlie  Kussian  dominicjiis,  particularly  the 
great  rivers  of  Siberia  and  the  waters  of  i-aki'  l>aikal.  'I'hey 
arrive  about  Hudson  I'.ay  in  June  as  soon  as  the  ice  breaks 
up,  and  make  their  ni'sts  inmiediately  after,  of  withered  grass, 
and  a  lining  of  down  or  featlu-rs  from  their  l)reasts.  'l"he 
young  are  at  first  of  a  dirty  brown,  like  young  goslings. 

'l"he  lireeding-range  of  these  birds  is  no  less  extensive  than 
the  ])receding.  .According  to  Audubcjn  they  nest  in  rank 
weeds  on  the  borders  of  lakes  in  Maine  and  other  parts  of  the 
Union,  and  Mr.  Say  obserxed  them  on  Lake  Michigan  in  42", 
on  the  7th  of  June,  assembled  there,  no  doubt,  to  pass  the 
summer. 

This  si)ecies,  like  the  rest  of  the  family,  dives  well,  and 
dexterously  eludes  the  sportsman  when  wounded,  moving 
about  often  in  the  greatest  silence,  with  its  bill  only  elevated 
above  the  water  f)r  respiration.  In  the  winter,  while  here, 
these  birds  frequent  the  bays  and  estuaries  as  well  as  fresh 
waters,   and   feed  as  usual   on   fry  and   shell-fish. 

The  Shelldrake  breeds  from  about  latituile  42'  in  the  West,  and 
from  about  latitude  45'  in  tlie  Kast,  to  the  Arctic  Circle,  and  spar- 
ingly north  of  that  line.  It  winters  on  the  coast  from  south  Green- 
land to  the  .Southern  States 

Itbrecds  in  ahundaiu  e  on  the  Miraniirlii  River  in  New  nnmswick. 

The  female  bears  all  the  burden  of  hatchiiii;-  the  e;j;,»;s  and  rear- 
ing the  young,  for  slie  is  deserted  by  her  mate  soon  after  she  begins 
to  sit.  She  is.  however,  etiual  to  the  task,  and  makes  a  most  duti- 
ful mother.  She  sits  jjatieiitlv  and  verv  ( losvlv  on  the  nest,  never 
rising  from  it  until  an  intruder  is  almost  within  arm's  reach,  and 
then  strives  to  decov  liim  from  tlie  spot.  Soon  after  tliev  are 
hatched,  tlie  young  are  led  to  tlie  water,  and  at  an  early  age  they 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  873-4S03 


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362  SWIMMERS. 

swim  rapidly  and  dive  with  great  expertiiess,  as  I  have  learned 
i)y  experience.  I  paddled  after  a  brood  one  hot  summer's  day, 
and  tliougli  several  times  they  were  almost  within  reach  of  my 
landing-net,  they  eluded  every  effort  to  capture  them.  Throughout 
the  chase  the  mother  kept  close  to  the  young  birds,  and  several 
times  swam  across  the  bow  of  the  canoe  in  her  efforts  to  draw  my 
attention  from  the  brood  and  to  offer  herself  as  a  sacrifice  for 
their  escape. 


i^' 


HOODED   MEROAXSKR. 

IIDODF.n   SIir.M.DKAKi:. 

I>()i'H()i»\ri:s  (.irii.i.Airs. 

Char.  Male:  upper  parts  black;  wings  and  tail  with  a  brownish 
tinge;  a  triangular  i)atch  of  white  on  the  najie ;  under  jiarts  wiiite,  the 
breast  with  two  crescentic  stri|)es  of  black,  and  sides  varied  with  I'nes 
of  yellowish  brown  ;  bill  leaden  bine,  with  a  white  nail ;  legs  dull  red. 
Length  about  19  inches.  Kcniale  is  rather  smaller;  upper  parts  dark 
brown;  crest  reddish  brown;  under  jjarts  white;  breast  pale  brown. 

A'est.  In  a  hole  in  tree,  or  stunij),  or  fallen  log,  lined  with  grass  and 
leaves  covered  with  down. 

J'-.ZK^-     5-1S  (usually  about  S)  ;  ivory  white;  2.10  X  1-75. 

This  elegant  species  is  peniliar  to  North  America,  and  in- 
habits the  interior  and  northern  parts  of  the  fur  countries  to 
their  utmost  Hmits.  It  is  also  among  the  latest  of  the  Anahh.k 
to  quit  those  cold  and  desolate  regions.  It  makes  a  nest  of 
withered  grass  and  feathers  in  retired  and  iinfretniented  places, 
by  the  grassy  borders  of  rivers  and  lakes.  According  to  .Au- 
dubon, it  also  breeds  aroimd  the  lagoons  of  the  Ohio,  and  on 
the  Great  Northwestern  Lakes  of  the  interior.  On  the  River 
St.  Peters,  in  the  45th  parallel,  Mr.  Say  observed  examples  on 
the  1 8th  of  July,  —  no  doubt  in  the  same  jjlace  where  they  had 


\     ! 


'•>'  I'      ■! 
is. 


F 


■r 


i-    : 


;!. 


'  %  ?! 


3^>4 


SWIM.MKRS. 


passed  the  rest  of  the  suininer.  At  Hudson  IJay.  where  these 
birds  arrive  about  the  end  ot"  May,  they  are  said  to  nest  close 
to  the  Ixjrders  of  lakes.  'I'he  young  are  at  first  yellowish,  and 
begin  to  lly  in  July.  'I'he  Hairy  Head,  as  this  species  is  some- 
times called,  is  rarely  seen  but  in  fresh  waters  and  lakes,  aj)- 
proaching  the  sea  only  in  winter,  when  its  favorite  haunts  are 
blocked  up  with  ice.  It  delights  in  the  woody  interior,  and 
traces  its  way  up  still  creeks,  and  sometimes  visits  the  mill- 
ponds,  perpetually  diving  for  small  fish  and  insects  in  the 
manner  of  the  Retl-breasted  Merganser.  In  the  course  of  the 
winter  it  migrates  as  far  south  as  Mexico,  is  very  common 
thrcjughout  the  whole  winter  in  the  Mississii>i,  and  is  rendereti 
very  consjjicuous  by  the  high  circular  and  party-colored  crest 
which  so  gracefully  » rowns  the  top  of  the  lu'ad. 

The  Hooded  Merganser  ranges  tluougliout  Nordi  America, 
breeding  from  about  latitude  45'  to  tlie  vicinity  of  the  Arctic  Circle, 
and  wintering  from  Massachusetts  (sparingly)  to  the  .Soutiiern 
States.  It  is  rather  common  as  a  spring  and  fall  migrant  in  New 
England  and  adjacent  provinces,  but  breeds  in  numbers  in  the 
nortliern  portions  of  Ontario  and  in  Manitoba. 

NoTK.  —  The  Ri  i'ors-ci<i:sTi:i)  Dn  k  (Xitfn  r/(////ii).  U-om  Eu- 
rope, has  been  taken  near  New  NOrk.  One  exami)le  of  .Stki.i.kr'.s 
Di(  K  (/in/iOf/,//tr  stclli'ii'),  a  North  I'acitk  .species,  has  also  wan- 
dered from  its  usual  habitat  and  been  captured  in  (Meenland. 

The  Maski.I)  Dick  {Xomoiiyx  (/oi/iiiiitiis).  a  tiojiical  bird, 
occurs  occasionally  on  the  lakes  of  the  interior,  but  cannot  be 
riLarded  as  more  than  a  stnii/irler. 


ami-:ri(\\x  wiiriK  i»kmcan. 

TmXANT-.S    IKVrilRORHVNCIIOS. 

Char,  (luncral  color  white,  tlio  bic.ist  and  nape  wa-ilu-d  witli  pale 
yellow;  wings  mostly  black;  hilt  loni:;  the  lower  niandiblc  connected 
with  a  larger  gular  sac;  hill  and  sac  reddish  in  life,  hut  fading  to  yellow- 
ish after  death  ;  legs  and  feet  orange.     Length  about  5  feet. 

Xt-st.  Usually  on  the  beach  of  an  island  in  a  large  lake,  —  a  loosely 
built  structure  of  twigs  on  t!ie  top  of  a  nioinul  of  gravel  and  sand. 

/'X!;s.  1-4  (usually  2);  while,  with  a  rough  chalk  like  surlace  ;  3. 35  X 
2  20. 


JtM, 


e  these 
st  close 
sh,  and 
s  somo- 
kcs,  ap- 
ints  are 
ior,  and 
he  mill- 
,  in   the 
;l'  of  the 
Lommon 
•endered 
cd  crest 

America, 
lie  Circle, 
Southern 
It  in  New 
IS  in  the 


from  I'u- 
r  1 :  1. 1. Kit's 
also  wan- 
md. 

ical  bird, 
annot  be 


with  pale 
connected 
to  yellow- 

—  a  loosely 

1(1. 


AMKKKAX    Wlini:    I'l'.I.ICAN. 


3^>5 


The  Pelican,  tiie  larj,'esi  of  weh-foo,  -d  water-fowl,  known 
from  the  earliest  limes,  has  long  hcUl  a  fahiiloiis  celebrity  U)r 
a  maternal  tenderness  that  went  so  far  as  to  give  nt)iirishinent 
to  its  brood  at  the  exi)ense  of  its  own  blood.  Its  industry 
and  success  as  a  fisher  allows  of  a  more  natural  and  grateful 
aliment  for  its  young:  and  pressing  the  well-stored  p(jut  h  to 
its  breast,  it  regurgitates  the  ct)ntents  before  them,  without 
staining  its  immaculate  robe  with  a  wound. 

If,  indeed,  authors  do  not  include  more  than  a  single  s])i'cies 
in  the  /'.  onoirotalus,  no  bird  wanders  so  widely  or  inhabits 
such  a  diversity  of  climates  as  the  Common  Pelican.  In  the 
cooler  parts  of  lairope  it  is,  however,  seldom  seen,  being  ob- 
served in  France,  England,  and  Switzerland  only  as  a  very 
rare  straggler.  It  is  likewise  im< ouunon  in  the  north  of  ( ier- 
many,  Uiough  great  numbers  occur  on  the  banks  of  the  1  )anul)e. 
'I'his  resort  anil  that  of  the  Strymon,  also  famous  for  its  Swans, 
are  noticed  by  Aristotle,  i'he  i'<li(  in  is  found  in  Ked  Russia, 
Lithuania,  \'olhinia.  Podolia,  and  Pokutia,  but  is  unknown  in  the 
northern  parts  of  the  Mu^covian  empire,  being  sel(K)m  met  with 
as  far  as  the  Siberian  lakes,  yet  it  is  observed  about  Pake  Paikal. 
The  lakes  of  Judiva  and  of  llgypt,  the  banks  of  the  Nile  iu  win- 
ter, and  those  of  the  Strymon  in  summer,  seen  from  the  heights, 
appear  whitened  by  flocks  of  Pelicans.  They  are  likiwise  com- 
mon in  .Africa,  on  the  Senegal  and  the  ( lambia,  as  well  as  at 
1-oanga,  and  on  the  coasts  of  .Angola,  Sierra  I.eone.  and  (iuiuea. 
'Ihey  occur  at  Madagascar,  at  Siam,  in  China,  on  the  isle  of 
Sunda,  and  ;ft  the  Philii)pines,  esjiecially  in  the  fisheries  of  the 
great  lake  of  Manilla.  'I'hey  are  sometimes  met  with  at  sea, 
and  have  been  seen  in  the  remote  islands  of  the  Indjan  ( )cean. 
Captain  Cook  observed  them  likewise  in  New  Holland. 

In  America  Pelicans  are  found  in  the  North  Pa(  ific.  on  the 
coast  of  California  and  New  Albion,  and  from  tiie  .Antilles 
and  Terra  Kirma,  the  isthmus  of  Panama  and  the  bay  of  Cam- 
peachy,  as  far  as  Pouisiana  and  Missouri.  They  are  very 
rarely  seen  along  the  coast  of  the  .Atlantic,  but  stragglers  have 
been  killed  in  the  Delaware,  and  they  are  known  tobieed  in 
Florida,     In  all  the  fur  coimtries  they  are  met  with  up  to  the 


M! 


ill 


tl  11^  i 


.1,   :> 


W 


366 


SNVIMMKRS. 


r 


6 1  St  parallel  of  northern  latitude.  Indeetl,  in  these  remote 
and  desolate  regions  they  are  numerous,  but  seem  to  have  no 
predilection  for  the  sea-eoast,  seldom  coming  within  two  hun- 
dreil  miles  of  Hudson  i>ay.  'I'hey  there,  according  to  Rich- 
ardson, deposit  their  eggs  usually  on  small  rocky  islands,  on 
the  banks  of  cascades  where  they  can  scarcely  be  approached, 
but  still  are  by  no  means  shy.  'i'hey  live  together  generally 
in  llocks  of  from  six  to  fourteen,  and  lly  low  and  heavily, 
sometimes  abreast,  at  others  in  an  oblitpie  line  ;  and  they  are 
often  seen  to  pa^s  close  over  a  building,  (jr  within  a  few  yards 
of  a  party  of  men,  witiiout  exhibiting  any  signs  i){  fear.  I'"or 
the  purpose  of  surprising  their  prey  diey  haunt  eddies  near 
water-falls,  and  devour  great  <iuantities  of  carp  and  other  fish. 
They  can  only  swallow,  ajiparently.  when  opening  the  mouth 
sideways  and  somewhat  upwards,  like  the  shark.  W  hen  gorged 
with  food,  they  doze  on  the  water  or  on  some  sand-shoal  i)ro- 
jecting  into  or  surrounded  by  it,  where  they  remain  a  great 
jxirt  of  their  time  in  gluttonous  inactivity.  digcNting  their  over- 
gorged  meal.  At  su(  h  times  they  may  be  easily  captured,  as 
they  have  then  great  diftic  ulty  in  starting  to  llight,  ])articularly 
when  the  pouch  is  loaded  with  fish,  'i  hough  they  can  i)rob- 
ably  perch  on  trees,  which  I  have  never  seen  thi-m  attempt, 
they  are  generally  on  the  wing,  on  the  ground,  (jr  in  their 
favorite  element. 

In  the  old  continent  the  Pelican  is  saitl  to  nest  on  the 
ground  in  an  e.xcavation  near  to  the  water,  laying  two  or  three, 
and  rarely  four  eggs,  which  are  pure  white,  and  of  nearly  equal 
thickness  at  both  ends,  i'he  report  that  it  nests  in  deserts  re- 
mote from  water,  and  the  story  of  the  parents  bringing  water  for 
their  young  in  the  ])ouch  in  such  <]uantities  as  to  afford  drink 
for  camels  and  wild  beasts,  ajjpears  only  one  of  those  extrava- 
gant fictions  or  tales  ot  travellers  invented  to  gratify  the  love 
of  the  marvellous.  Vet  so  general  is  the  belief  in  the  truth  o 
this  improbable  relation  that  the  I\gyptians  styled  it  the  camel 
of  the  river,  and  the  Tersians,  Taoi/>,  or  the  water-carrier. 
The  pouch  of  the  Pelican  is,  however,  very  capacious,  and  be- 
sides drowning  all  attempts  at  distinct  voice,  it  gives  a  most 


AMKRICAN   Wmri-;    I'I.I.ICAN. 


ic^i 


uncouth,  unwioKly.  ami  grotesque  figure  to  the  bird  with  which 
it  is  associated.  The  French  very  justly  nickname  these  birds 
Grand- ^osiers,  or  (Ireat-throats  ;  and  as  this  monstrous  i-n- 
largenient  of  the  gullet  is  capable  of  holding  a  dozen  (|uarts 
of  water,  an  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  iiuantity  of  fish  they 
can  scoop  when  let  loo>.e  ann)ng  a  shoal  of  pile  hards  or  other 
fish,  which  they  pursue  in  the  course  of  their  migrations. 

The  Pelican  appears  to  attain  to  a  great  age.  According  to 
("ulniann,  in  (lesner,  a  tame  one  in  i)ossessi()n  of  tiie  I'-mperor 
Maximilian,  which  is  said  to  have  followed  him  with  the  army, 
lived  to  the  age  of  fourscore. 

It  is  remarkable  that  while  the  Pelican  of  the  Atlantic  and 
the  Pacific  habitually  frecjuents  the  ocean,  th  it  whi(  h  so  gen- 
erally inhabits  North  .America  is  rarely  seen  on  the  sea-coast, 
and  then  only  as  a  straggler,  seeking,  even  at  such  times,  the 
protection  of  bays  and  rivers.  Its  habits  are  also  essentially 
different.  It  never  boldly  soars  aloft,  nor  seeks  its  prey  at  sea. 
'I'he  oceanic  species  is  likewise  seen  in  troops,  sometimes  fol- 
lowing a  retreating  shoid  of  fish  and  circumventing  their 
escape  by  enclosing  them  as  in  a  ring  ;  at  other  times  soar- 
ing over  their  prey,  these  birds  droj)  like  a  i)hmimet,  and 
l)lunging  headlong,  cause  the  water  to  tly  up  eight  to  ten  feet. 
These  antl  other  actions  foreign  to  our  bird  would  seem  to  indi- 
cate an  original  ilifference  of  race.  Net  again  we  find  them 
on  the  old  continent,  principally  upon  large  rivers  and  lakes. 

Tile  White  Pelican  docs  not  occur  regulnrlv  to  tlic  eastward  of 
the  Mississippi  valley,  though  numbers  have  at  sundry  tiiius  wan- 
dered to  the  Atlantic,  appearing  all  alon<i  tiic  coast  from  I'lorifla  to 
the  Bay  of  Pundy,  and  I  have  examined  one  specimen  tiiat  was 
captured  on  the  (iulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 

It  is  said  to  occur  regularly  on  tiic  Mississippi  River  and  north 
to  Wisconsin,  and  is  common  in  Manitoba.  Small  flocks  are  seen 
occasionally  on  the  Great  Lakes. 


*  't  ,- » 


11 


!(';  ■. 


Si  i 


I  t 


3C8  s\vimmi;k  . 

HROWN    I'i:i.IC  AN. 

ri;i.i;r.\Ms  mscls. 

Char.  Upper  parts  a^liy  gray;  head  wliitr  ;  neck  rich  cliestnut;  wing- 
coverts  and  runij)  brown  ;  iuuli.r  pans  brownish  ;iray  ;  bill  brownisii ;  sac 
(liisUy  ;  legs  black.  Length  about  4  tcct.  In  winter  tlie  head  and  neci; 
are  white. 

AV-iY.  On  an  island  .ilong  the  roast,  usnally  on  the  groinul,  sometimes 
in  a  tree;  ni.ulc  ol  twigs  and  sedge>i,  and  liiie<l  with  gr.iss. 

/.[VA'.''     J-5  (u>ually   5) ;  whiti.',  with  a  chalk-like  ^^nrlaie  ;  J.oo  X   195. 

'I'he  IJnJwii  IVlicaii  inhabits  cx(  Itisivcly  tin-  sea-coast  of  the 
wanner  parts  of  America,  being  abtimlant  in  the  West  Indies, 
particularly  in  Jamaica,  liarbadoes,  etc.  These  birds  are  like- 
wise common  in  the  Sotilhern  States,  abounding  in  the  bav  of 
Charleston,  where  they  are  seen  actively  engaged  in  pursuit  of 
their  prey.  They  likewise  breed  and  inhabit  in  the  peninsula 
of  ICast  I'lorida,  and  occasionally  wander  up  t.'.j  Mississippi  as 
far  as  the  river  Missouri.  They  are,  like  thi-  preceding  species, 
very  glnttonotis  and  voracious.  After  gcjrging  themselves,  they 
retire  to  the  rocks  or  islets,  and  during  the  |)rocess  of  digest- 
ing their  enormous  meal  remain  do/ing  and  inactive  for  hours 
together,  with  the  bill  resting  on  the  breast,  at  \viii<  h  times, 
in  South  .America,  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  natixes  to 
steal  upon  tluni  tm.iwares  and  seize  them  by  the  neck,  with- 
out their  making  any  defence  or  resistance,  ^'et,  like  some 
other  gregarious  birds,  they  are  said  to  show  a  great  alTectinn 
for  the  woimdcd  of  their  own  s])e(  ies,  to  which  they  will  carry 
a  sni»])ly  of  food,  l-'ather  Raymond  relates  that  he  had  seen 
one  of  tliese  Pelicans  so  well  tamed  and  tatight  among  the 
aborigines  that  it  would  go  off  in  the  morning,  and  rettirn 
before  night  to  its  master  with  its  potich  distendeil  with  fish, 
a  great  part  of  which  the  savages  made  it  disgorge,  leaving  it 
in  possession  of  the  remainder  as  a  reward  for  its  service. 

The  Hrown  I'elican  is  common  on  the  coast  of  the  Gulf  States, 
and  on  the  Atlantic  to  North  Carolina.  A  few  examples  have 
wandered  as  far  north  as  the  shores  of  Massachusetts, 


tmit ;  wing- 
iwiii^li  ;  s;ic 
1  ami   iillI: 

sometimes 

)0  X   1.95. 

ist  of  the 
st  Indies, 
are  like- 
he  hay  (if 
piirsuil  of 
peninsula 
iissippi  as 
t(  species, 
jives,  they 
f  (ligest- 
'or  hours 
1  times, 
atives  to 
~k,  wilh- 
<e  some 
alleclinn 
vill  carry 
Kul  seen 
unVfi  the 
1   return 
ith  fish, 
,'aving  it 
ce. 

f  States, 
Hes  have 


CORMORANT. 

slIAd. 
'H\I.\(  RO(()|<\\    CARl'.O. 


CllAR.  Prevailing  color  hl.ick,  witli  nn  t  illic  rctloctions  of  green  and 
Iiiirplc,  the  mantle  glossed  with  bronzy  hrowii  ;  tiic  gnlar  poiuh  I)are, 
and  yeliuw  in  color,  and  at  its  hase  is  a  white  hand  extending  from  be- 
neath the  eves  across  the  ihmat.  During  the  spring  tlie  feathers  of  tlic 
nai)e  are  elongated  and  form  a  mane-like  (rest,  and  white  hair-like  feath- 
ers appear  011  the  head  :  also  a  patch  of  wnile  is  worn  on  the  Hanks.  liill 
black,  shading  to  vellow  at  the  base  ;  legs  black      Lenuth  about   ^/i  inches. 

jVt's/.  In  a  crevice  of  a  sea-waslied  clit'f.  or  on  the  tiat  beach  of  a  lake, 
or  in  trees  hv  river,  —  made  of  large  twigs,  sometimes  mixed  with  sea- 
VOI,.    II.  —  24 


f 


370 


SWIMMKKS. 


■\h 


i    1. 


.'^ 


I '.  sn 


Is'')';; 


weed  and  lined  with  grass  or  leaves.  r>iially  the  nest  is  the  arcutnu- 
lation  of  years,  and  becomes  a  heap  of  twigs,  rotten  at  the  base  and 
surmounted  by  a  layer  of  fresh  herl)aye. 

/•/vY-f-  2-6  (usually  3);  white,  with  a  roiij^h,  elialk-like  surface,  the 
inside  of  the  shell  sea-green  or  i)ale  blue ;  si/e  variable,  average  about 
J. 60  X  i.fo. 

The  Cormorant,  I'halacrocorax,  or  I5al<l  Raven,  of  the  (Irecks, 
like  the  I'elican,  to  which  it  is  nearly  related,  is  also  a  general 
inhabitant  of  nearly  every  maritime  part  of  the  world,  and  even 
extends  its  residence  into  the  inclement  regions  of  (ireenland. 
vvliere,  by  following  the  openings  of  tiie  great  icy  barriers  of  that 
dreary  region,  it  finds  means  to  subsist  and  to  (ish  throughout 
the  year,  'I  o  the  natives  of  this  frigid  climate  it  also  i)roves 
of  singular  service  :  its  tougli  skin  is  used  by  tiiem  as  gar- 
ments, the  pouch  is  employed  as  a  bladder  to  lloat  their  fish- 
ing-tackle, and  the  flesh,  thougii  coarse,  is  still  acceptable  to 
tlu)se  wiio  can  regale  upon  seal's  and  whale's  blubber. 

These  uncouth  and  gluttonous  birds  are  plentiful  on  the 
rocky  shores  of  (Ireat  Hritain,  Holland,  France,  and  Cicrmany. 
On  the  shores  of  the  ('asjiian  they  are  sometimes  seen  in  vast 
(locks,  and  are  frecpient  on  Lake  Uaikal.  They  inhabit  Cliina 
and  the  c^ast  of  the  Cape  of  (lood  Hope,  and  are  common  in 
thi'  I'liilippine  Islands,  New  Holland,  New  Zealand,  and  other 
neighboring  regions.  At  Nootka  Soiuvl  and  in  Kamtschatka 
they  have  been  observed  by  various  navigators,  and  are  found 
in  North  America  from  Hudson  15ay  and  Labrador  to  the 
coasts  of  Carolina  and  (leorgia.  They  are  not,  howe\er,  com- 
mon in  the  central  parts  of  the  United  States,  though  they 
jienetrate  into  the  interior  as  far  as  the  Missouri  River,  'i'hey 
breed  and  are  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  lloston  on  bare  and  rocky 
islands  nearly  throughout  the  year,  and  in  all  jilaces  ajipear 
shy,  retiring,  and  sedentary,  enduring  the  most  severe  weather 
with  impunity,  and  only  removing  seaward  or  south  in  the 
depth  of  winter  for  the  purpose  of  accpiiring  food.  Mr.  Audu- 
bon found  them  breeding  on  the  ledges  of  almost  inaccessible 
rocks  at  Crand  Menan  isle,  in  the  IJay  of  I'lmdy.  They  ai)|)ear 
very  wary  and  shy,  and  feed  their  young  with  great  assiduity, 
whose  voice  at  this  time  resembles  the  hissing  of  snakes. 


CORMORANT. 


371 


the  arcumu- 
ic  base  and 

s\irfacc,  the 
cragc  about 

he  (1  recks, 
I  a  general 
,  and  even 
Ireenland, 
iersof  that 
throughout 
ilso  proves 
m  as  gar- 
their  fish- 
eptable  to 
)er. 

fill  on  the 

(lerniany. 

L-en  in  vast 

abit  China 

oniinon  in 

\m\  other 

intschatka 

are  found 

)r  to   the 

\er,  coni- 

oui^h  they 

T.     They 

ind  rocky 

es  appear 

weather 

ith  in  the 

dr.  Audu- 

aeeessible 

ey  aiijjear 

assiduity, 

:es. 


'J'he  Cormorant  is  a  very  dexterous  and  voracious  fisher,  (oni- 
mitting  great  havoc  when  it  visits  pools  and  lakes  ;  but  it  almost 
constantly  resides  on  the  sea-shores,  and  is  seldom  seen  inland. 
Swinnning  beneath  tlie  water  with  the  velocity  of  a  dart  in  the 
air,  and  remaining  a  long  time  submerged,  its  prey  si  arcely 
ever  escapes,  and  it  almost  always  rises  with  a  fi^h  in  it^  bill, 
to  swallow  which  it  employs  the  expedient  of  tossing  it  into 
the  air,  and  dexterously  catches  the  head  in  its  descent,  so  that 
the  fins  lie  tlat,  and  thus  tavor  the  passage  down  the  throat  ;  the 
small  pouch  at  the  same  time  stretches  so  as  to  admit  the  whole 
body  of  the  fish,  which  is  often  very  large  in  proportion  to  the 
neck,  and  it  there  remains,  undergoing  a  i)re|)aratory  digestion 
previous  to  its  |)assage  into  the  lower  part  of  the  stomach. 

In  some  ccjuntrit.-s,  as  in  China,  and  formerly  in  l-'.ngland,  the 
dexterity  of  the  Cormorant  in  fishing  was  turned  to  profit  ;  for 
by  biukling  a  ring  about  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  to  prevent 
deglutiti(jn,  and  accustoming  it  to  return  witli  its  acipiisitions  in 
the  bill  to  its  master,  it  was  made  a  useful  and  doineNtic  fisiu-r. 
( )n  the  rivers  of  China,  Corm<jrants  thus  fixed  are  ])erclu(l  on 
the  prows  of  boats,  and  at  a  signal  made  by  striking  the  water 
with  an  oar,  they  instantly  plunge,  and  soon  emerge  with  a  fish, 
which  is  taken  from  them.  And  this  toil  continues  till  its  master 
is  satisfied  :  he  looses  tlie  collar,  and  finishes  the  task  by  allow- 
ing it  to  fish  for  itself,  lint  it  is  only  hunger  which  gives  ai  liv- 
ity  to  the  Cormorant  ;  when  glutted  with  its  meal,  whi(  ii  is  >()on 
accpiired,  it  relaxes  into  its  native  indolence,  and  do/.es  away 
the  greatest  part  of  its  time  in  ghutonous  inebrii't)-,  i)erched 
in  solitude  on  naked  and  insulated  or  inaccessible  rocks,  to 
which  it  prudently  retires  ft)r  greater  safety  from  the  intrusion 
of  enemies. 

In  lMiro])e,  where  these  binls  are  alike  sedentary  and  averse 
to  migration,  they  are  known  to  breed  from  the  coasts  ot  Hol- 
land to  the  shores  of  (Ireenland.  and  they  are  e(|ually  residents 
in  America  nearly  to  the  extremity  of  the  Cnion.  The  nest 
is  usually  made  with  sticks,  sea-weeds,  grass,  and  other  coarse 
materials,  commonly  upon  rocks,  but  sometimes  ui)on  trees  on 
the  banks  of  rivers,  where  ihev  are  o(  ( asionally  seen  pen  hed. 


p 


372 


SWIM.MtKS. 


According  to  I,:uvsoii,  thoy  arc  ohservotl  in  groat  flocks  ia  Caro- 
lina in  Man  h  and  April,  wht-n  the  herrings  ascend  the  creelcs, 
at  which  time  they  are  seen  on  l.iilen  logs  in  the  water  waiting 
and  watching  the  approach  of  their  prey. 

This  species  of  Cormorant  wa.s  loriiR-rly  considered  a  common 
winter  visitor  to  New  l^nj;lan(l.  and  nested  sparingly  along  the 
coast  from  Xaliant  to  the  IJay  of  l-iindy ;  liut  during  recent  years 
it  has  been  rarely  seen  south  of  the  (liilf  of  St.  Lawrence,  though 
in  winter  a  few  examples  wander  as  far  south  as  the  New  Jer- 
sey shore.  .Mr.  ll.igerup  rejjorts  the  bird  a  resident  of  (ireeidand, 
being  most  numerous  in  the  northern  section. 

Nuttall  was  mistaken  in  giving  this  bird  a  more  southern  range; 
Mr.  I.awson.  whom  he  tpiotcs.  pri)bal)ly  confused  the  present  si)e- 
cies  with  its  Double-crested  cousin,  a  pardonable  error  in  one  to 
whom  the  southern  bird  was  not  familiar  when  in  its  winter  plu- 
mage, for  at  that  season  the  two  .species  are  somewhat  similar  in 
appearance. 


'.    VI 


i\f\' 


)  ■  ■ ;  ■  I 


i)()L'i5ij:-cRi:sri:i)  cormokani'. 

I'llA!  .A(  Ki).  OK.W    lill.olMllS. 

Cll.\R.  I'rcv.iilinn  cnlcir  bl.-n  k,  with  nieeii  reflections,  tlie  l).Kk  and 
winns  varied  witli  ^r.ivisli  brnwn  ;  gukir  sac  oraiii^e ;  bill  iiluisli;  icj,s 
and  leet  1)1, ick.  Durini;  the  inatiny  sea.-on  tlie  mi.iIc  wears  crests  of 
long,  thin  plumes  on  the  .-.ides  ot  the  er<jwn,  extending  from  above  the 
eyes  to  tiie  nape.  In  eastern  or  sea-coast  i)irds  tiusc  plmnes  arc  l)lack, 
but  birds  taken  in  the  interior  have  wlutc  nnnglcd  witii  the  black,  and 
in  I'.ici lie-coast  specimen-,  the  plumes  are  entirelv  white.     Lentfti)  about 


3J  niches. 

.\',a/.       I 


n  a  crevice  of  a 


•a-wa>hed  cliff. 


ngtl 
)n  the  l)cach  of  a  lake  or 


on  a  tree  by  a  river  bank  ;  made  of  twigs  and  grass,  —  sometimes  entirely 
of  marine  iierl)age. 

/s\;;'j-.  2-5;  chalky  wlutc  anil  rough  on  the  >inface,  witi)  inner  siiell  of 
blue  or  green  tint ;  average  si/e  2.40  X  1.40. 

The  range  of  this  species  e.vtenils  from  the  Gulf  .States  to  Lab- 
rador and  the  Saskatclu-wan  vallev.  and  its  breedinj;  area  from 
about  latitude  45^  northward.  It  winters  north  to  the  Hay  of  Kundy 
(sparingly). 

The  Double-crested  Cormorant  is  the  common  Shag  of  our  salt- 
water fishermen,  and  is  numerous  in  Manitoba  also,  though  rather 
rare  on  the  Creat  Lakes. 


Ih  ' 


.MA\-(tF-\VAR    IIIKI). 


ks  it)  Caro- 
tlie  crt't'ks, 
Iter  waiting 


a  coninion 
y  alon^f  tlic 
ccL'iit  years 
ncc,  though 
0  Xlw  Jer- 
<iicenlaiul, 

hern  ian,t;e; 
)ic.sciit  spe- 
)r  in  one  to 
winter  pin- 
t  simil.ir  in 


375 


If  l).iii<  and 
Ijluisli ;  Ic^s 
IS  crests  of 
n  al)<)VL'  the 
s  are  black, 
;  black,  and 
L'ngtii  about 

)f  a  lake  or 
Dies  entirely 

mer  shell  of 

OS  to  Lab- 
area  from 
>'  of  Fundy 

)f  our  salt- 
ish rather 


Tn  habits  tins  spci  ics  does  not  differ  from  others  of  the  irroun 
It  feeds  prmcipally  „n  fish,  which  it  obtains  by  divin;^  fro„,  ,1,^ 
surface  ot  ti,e  water.     It  is  an  expert  diver,  and  strong,  fast  swim- 
mer, and  can  remain  under  water  for  a  very  long  period,  coming  to 
the  surface  out  oj  gunshot  of  a  pursuer. 

NoTK-The   ri..,i<u,A  CoKMoKANT    {l\  dilothus  jlorhi.uu,s) 
sasmaller  vanetyot  the  Double-crested  species,  .litfering  fr..m  tl,e 
ype  .n  s-/e  only.      Length  ab„ut  25  inches.      It  is  restricted  chiedy 
to  the   (,u  f  .Stat.s.  tliough  occurring  occasionallv  on  tlie  .Atlantic- 
shores  of  the  m.ae  southern  States,  and  ah.ng  the  .Mississippi  val- 
ley to  southern   Illinois.  n       •" 
Am.ther  species,  the   .Mi:xK  AN   Coumokant  (/».  mexuauus) 
occurs  occasionally  „n  the  shores  of  the  (Julf  .States,  and   has 
been  taken  in  southern   Illinois. 


^r.\\-f)F-\v\K  151  Ri). 

FKU.AIE    lilKI).     FKKiAlE    I'ELiCA.V. 
Kki;(;\ia   A(.)ll|.\. 

Char      Prevailing  color  black,  with  reflections  of  green  and  pnrple 
Length  about  40  niches.  l"-rpie. 

A-est.     On  mangrove-trees  near  the  shore,  loosely  made  of  twius 
J'.Kgs.     Isually  1  ;  white;  2.70  X  1.S5. 

The  Frigate  Pelican,  or  Nfan-of-War  Hinl.  is  chieflv  seen  on 
the  tropical  seas,  and  generally  on  the  wing.    These' birds  -.re 
abun.iant  in  the  island  of  .Ascension,  India,  Ceylon,  and  China 
In  the  South  Sea  they  are  seen  about  the  Manpiesas.  Faster 
Isles,  and  New  ( 'aledonia  :  also  at  ( )taheite.     I  )ampier  saw  them 
in  great  plenty  in  the  island  of  Aves,  in  the  West  Indies  •  an.I 
they  are  common  off  the  coast  of  Fast  I'lori.la,  particularly 
around  the  reefs  or  keys,  often  assemble.]  in   Hocks  of  from 
fifty  to  a  thousand.    They  are  also  not  uncommon,  during  sum- 
mer, along  the  coasts  of  the  Union  as  far  as  .South  Can.lina 
and  breed  m  various  places,  retiring  to  warmer  latitudes  on  the 
approach  of  coo!  weather. 

-rhe  Frigate  Bird  is  often  seen  smoothly  gliding  through  the 
air,  with  the  motions  of  a  Kite,  from  one  to  two  hundred 


374 


SWIM  Mi:  RS. 


■■'   'i 


ij  :h  :'i 


I 


leagues  from  the  land,  sustaining  these  vast  flights  with  the 
greatest  apparent  ease,  sometimes  soaring  so  high  as  to  be 
scarcely  visible,  at  others  approaching  the  surface  of  the  sea, 
where,  hovering  at  some  (list;ince,  it  at  length  espies  a  fish, 
and  darts  upon  it  with  the  utmost  rapidity,  and  generally  with 
success,  flying  upwards  again  as  cpiickly  as  it  descended.  In 
the  same  manner  it  also  attacks  the  Moobies  and  other  marine 
birds,  which  it  obliges  to  relin(iuish  their  l-rey. 

I'hese  birds  breed  abundantly  in  the  IJahamas,  and  are  saiil 
to  make  their  nests  on  trees,  if  near  ;  at  other  times  they  lay 
on  the  rocks.  'I'he  eggs,  one  or  two.  are  of  a  flesh  color, 
marked  with  crimson  spots.  The  young  birds,  covered  with 
a  grayish  white  down,  are  assiduously  attended  by  the  parents, 
who  are  then  tame  and  easily  api)roached.  W'iien  alarmed, 
like  (lulls,  tlicy  as  readily  cast  up  the  contents  of  tiieir  pouch 
as  those  birds  do  of  the  Ntomach. 

Tlie  Frigate  liird  occurs  rcgularlv  off  the  coast  of  Florida,  and 
exaniiiles  have  been  seen  as  lar  north  as  Nova  Scotia;  but  out- 
side of  tiu"  tropics  it  must  he  considered  an  aecideiUal  stragtjier. 


,4 

m 


Its  with  the 
jh  as  to  be 
of  the  sea, 
spies  a  fish, 
nerally  with 
ended.  In 
ther  marine 

md  are  said 
les  they  lay 
llesh  color, 
nered  with 
he  parents, 
n  alarmed, 
heir  j)ouch 

'lorida,  and 
;i ;  but  out- 
trag^rier. 


^.^^ 


(iAWK'!'. 

SOLAX   (JOOSE. 

Sii  V   n.vxs.w A. 

Char.     IVevailinfr  color  white;    head  and   neck    washed    wiM,  buff- 
outer  wn,g.feathers  (,,. i„,ar,es)  black.     I,cn„h  ab,.„,  ,,  ..,  ,o     c  c         ' 
he  yo.n.^  b.rds  arc  dusky  b,.,wn.  spottci  .,11  over  wi,h  white. 
.W.       )n  a  c  ,ff  „f  an  ocean  i.shuul,  -  nude  of  sea-weed  and  gras.s. 
A^ri.'.     I  i  chalky  white,  Miner  .shell  pale  blue,  aver.-.i^e  si.e  ;,  ,o  X  1.90. 

The  (iannet  is  another  of  the  manv  .narine  binis  common  to 
H'th  sides  of  the  .Atlantic  ( )eean.      In  the  snmmer  season  the.se 
birds  are  extremely  abnn<lant  on  some  rocky  isles   in  the   IJay 
ol  the  St.  Lawrence,  and   not   uncommon  on   the  coasts  of  the 
In.ted    .States,    espe.ially    to    the    south    of  Cape     I  latter, s 
On  the  south  si.le  of  \ ,nv^    Islan.l  and  the  neiuhborin.M-oast 
they  are  seen  in  numbers  in  the  month  of  October  associu- 
ing    with    the    Velvet    and    Scoter    Ducks.      In    the    summer 
they   also  penetrate  into  the  .\nti<-     regions   of  both  conti- 
nents, are  seen  on  the  coast  of  .Newfoundland,  and  occasicnallv 
m  Creenland.     In  Iceland   tliey  bred  and  are  seen  in  great 
Hocks.      Ihey  are  also  eijually  common  to  the  northwest  coa.st 
of  .America. 


j/' 


s\\i.MMi:ks. 


it  ?: 


r: 


M    .     1 


These  birds  abound  in  Norway  and  the  Hebrides,  partic- 
ularly on  some  of  the  least  accessiljle  of  the  islands.  Accord- 
ing to  Dr.  Harvey,  Mass  Island,  near  lldinburgh,  not  more  than 
a  mile  in  circumference,  has  in  the  months  of  May  and  June  its 
surface  almost  wholly  covered  with  nests,  eggs,  and  young  birds, 
so  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  walk  without  treading  on  thi'm  ; 
and  the  flocks  of  birds  are  so  prodigious  as,  when  in  flight,  to 
darken  the  air  like  clouds,  and  their  noise  is  so  stunning  that  it 
is  scarcely  possible  to  hear  your  next  neighbor.  Looking  down 
towards  the  sea  from  the  top  of  the  prec  ipice,  you  see  it  on  all 
sides  covered  with  multitudes  of  birds,  swinmiing  and  chasing 
their  prey  ;  and  if  in  sailing  round  the  island  you  survey  the 
hanging  cliffs,  you  may  see  on  every  crag  or  fissure  of  the 
rocks  numberless  birds  of  various  sorts  antl  sizes  ;  and  seen 
in  the  distance,  the  crowding  floiks  passing  continually  to  and 
from  the  i:>land  can  only  be  compared  to  a  vast  swarm  of  bees. 

The  rocks  of  St.  Kilda  are  no  less  freciuented  by  the  (Ian- 
nets,  and  Martin  assures  us  that  the  inhabitants  of  that  small 
island  consimie  annually  no  loss  than  twenty-two  thousand 
young  birds  of  this  species,  besides  a  vast  quantity  of  their 
eggs,  these  being,  in  fa(  t,  their  principal  support,  'ihis  su])ply. 
though  spontaneous  from  nature,  is  not  obtained  withotu  immi- 
nent hazard  o*"  jfe  to  those  who  engage  in  procuring  these  ])irds 
and  their  eggs  ;  as  besides  climbing  difficult  and  almost  inac- 
cessible paths  among  the  rocks  beetling  over  the  sea,  they 
sometimes  lower  each  other  down  from  above,  by  ropes  in 
baskets,  to  collect  their  game  from  the  shelvinLjs  and  fissures 
of  the  rocks  chosen  by  these  sagacious  birds  The  young  are 
a  favorite  dish  with  the  North  I'.ritons  in  general,  and  during 
the  season  they  are  constantly  brought  from  the  IJass  Isle  to 
Edinburgh. 

As  might  be  supposed,  the  (lannets  are  in  these  islands 
birds  of  passage,  making  their  first  appearance  in  the  month 
of  March,  continuing  there  till  August  or  September,  accord- 
ing as  the  inhabitants  take  or  leave  their  first  egg  ;  but  in 
general,  the  time  of  breeding  and  departing  ap])ears  to  coincide 
with  the  arrival  of  the  herring  and  its  migration  out  of  those 


les,  partic- 
,     Accord- 
more  than 
nd  J  tint"  its 
Diing  birds, 
s,  on  thcni ; 
n  Higtit,  to 
ning  that  it 
>king  down 
ee  it  on  all 
nd  chasing 
survey  the 
lire  of  the 
;   and   seen 
ally  to  and 
rm  of  bees. 
y  the  (Jan- 
that  small 
3  thousand 
ty  of  their 
his  supply, 
lout  inimi- 

lese  birds 
most   iiiac- 

sea,  they 
ropes  in 
id   fissures 

young  are 
nd  during 
ass  Isle  to 

se  islands 
le  month 
r,  acrord- 
g ;  but  in 
0  coincide 
of  those 


GAXNET. 


177 


seas.  It  is  probable  that  these  birtls  attend  the  herring  ami 
the  pilchard  during  their  whole  ircuit  rountl  the  British 
Islands,  the  appearance  of  the  first  ueing  always  esteemed  by 
the  fishermen  as  a  sure  pressage  of  the  approach  of  the  last. 
(lannets  migrate  in  (piest  of  food  as  far  south  as  the  mouth  . 
of  the  iagus,  [)eing  fre([uently  seen  off  Lisbon  in  December.  " 
plunging  for  sardines. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Dr.  Harvey  observed  in  Caithness 
their  northern  migrations  ;  they  were  |)assing  the  whole  day 
in  flocks,  from  five  to  fifteen  in  each.  In  calm  weather  they 
fly  higii  ;  in  storms  they  proceed  lower  and  near  the  shore, 
but  never  cross  over  the  land,  even  when  a  bay  with  its  pro- 
montories intervenes,  but  follow  at  an  ecpial  distance  the 
course  of  the  bay,  and  regularly  double  every  ca])e.  Many  of 
the  moving  parties  would  make  a  sort  of  halt  for  the  sake  of 
fishing  ;  for  this  piir])ose  they  soar  to  a  great  height,  then,  dart- 
ing headlong  into  llu-  sea,  make  the  water  foam  and  swell  with 
the  violence  of  the  concussion,  after  which  they  pursue  their 
route.  With  the  arrival  of  the  shoals  of  pilchards  in  the  latter 
end  of  summer,  they  are  seen  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall,  anil  in 
November,  when  the  pilchards  retire,  the  (lannets  mostly  dis- 
a[)j)ear,  though  a  few  linger  on  the  coast  throughout  the  winter. 
An  individual  killed  near  Mount's  Hay  made,  as  is  common 
with  this  bird,  a  long  struggle  with  a  v.ater-s|)aniel,  assisted  by 
a  boatman,  showing  himself  both  strong  and  i)ugnacious.  and 
sufficiently  redeeming  on  his  part  the  (lannet  family  from  the 
ill-supported  charge  of  cowardice  and  stupidity. 

Many  years  ago  a  (lannet,  flying  over  Pen/ance,  and  seeing 
some  pilchards  lying  on  a  fir-j)lank  in  a  cellar  used  for  (  uring 
fish,  darted  down  with  such  violence  that  it  struck  its  bill 
through  the  board  and  broke  its  ne(  k. 

These  birds  appear  to  have  a  strong  predilection  for  jiarticu- 
lar  spots.  On  the  (lannet  Ro(~k,  in  the  (lulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
they  are  seen  in  amazing  multitudes.  This  ro(  k  (according  to 
.\udul)on,  frf)ni  whom  we  derive  the  interesting  information)  is 
four  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  several  acres  in  extent  on  the 
summit.     .At  that  time,  the  Sth  of  lune,  it  was  covereil  with 


37^ 


SWIM.MKKS. 


-;■«. 


•t 

m  '1 


:i 


■i     i- 


:|lj 


innumerable  birds  upon  their  nests,  so  crowded  or  closely  ar- 
ranged as  to  give  the  appean.nce  of  a  huge  mass  of  snow,  while 
the  hovering  crowds  seen  around  this  inaccessible  marine  moun- 
tain forcibly  presented  at  a  distance  the  actual  ajipearance  of  a 
snow-storm.  While  thus  engaged,  the  rei).)rt  of  a  musket  did 
not  seem  in  the  least  to  alarm  them  ;  and  defenceless  while 
obeying  this  powerful  instinct,  they  allow  themselves  to  be 
approached  and  despatched  without  using  any  means  for 
escape,  appearing  riveted  to  the  spot,  while  engaged  in  the 
affections  and  cares  of  reproduction. 

The  nest  of  the  dannet  is  composed  chiefly  of  sea-weed, 
and  generally  placed  upcjn  the  most  inaccessible  parts  of  the 
highest  rocks.  Tlie  egg  (only  one  being  laid  before  hatching) 
is  white,  and  very  like  that  of  the  Cormorant,  but  not  nearly 
so  large  as  the  egg  of  the  (loose,  weighing  about  three  and 
a  (|uarter  oimces. 

The  (lannet  seems  inca])able  of  diving.  —  at  least,  no  alarm 
can  force  it  to  immerse.  Upon  the  water  it  swims  as  buoyantly 
as  a  (lull.  When  offered  fi^h  it  will  accejjt,  but  will  never  go 
into  a  pond  after  food;  and  from  every  ai)pearance  of  its 
actions  on  water,  to  which  it  will  go  only  from  ( ()m])uIsion,  it 
cannot  procure  fish  beyond  the  extent  of  its  ne:  k.  At  times 
these  birds  rise  from  the  water  with  so  much  difficultv  that 
they  are  easily  nm  down  by  a  boat;  but  when  thus  suri)rised 
thev  defend  themselves  with   much   vigor. 

Within  a  few  years  this  species  lias  deserted  dannet  Rock,  near 
(irand  .Menan.  thout^li  a  lari;e  niunber  still  gather  on  the  Magdalen 
Islands,  in  the  (lull  of  St.  Lawrence. 

.Mr.  William  Iiicwster  reports  that  in  icSSi  he  found  some  fifty 
thousand  birds  nesting  on  one  of  those  islands,  and  describes  the 
number  as  astonisliing  and  impressive,  but  insignificant  when  com- 
pared witli  the  legions  seen  there  by  Dr.  Bryant  some  twenty  years 
before. 

The  food  of  this  species  consists  entirely  of  fish,  which  it  procures 
by  diving  from  the  wing,  jilunging  into  the  water  from  a  great 
height,  —  sometimes  a  hundred  yards  or  more.  When  pursued  or 
wounded,  it  rarely  or  never  dives.  tru;>ting  to  its  flight,  wliicli  is 
strong  and  rapid. 


1i 


5r  closely  ar- 
f  snow,  while 
larine  moun- 
earance  of  a 

musket  did 
celess  while 
-Ives   to   be 

means  for 
ged   in   the 

f  sea-weeii, 
arts  of  the 
;  hatching) 
not  nearly 
three  and 

,  no  alarm 

buoyantly 

1  never  go 

if~e   of  its 

pulsion,  it 

At  times 

Lulty  that 

surprised 


!ock,  near 
Magdalen 

ome  fifty 
■ribes  the 
lien  coiK- 
nty  years 

procures 

a  great 

I'siied  or 

which  is 


BOOIiV.  ^-g 

SuLA  sri.v. 

Char.     Upper  parts  and  breast  sooty  brown,  more  or  less  varied  witl, 
gray  ;  under  i)art    white.     J.ength  31  inches 

on'atush'!'!-  1 "  '?'"  '''","';  ^'""^•'""^■^  ""  "^<^  «'"'"ul.  hut  usually  placed 
on  a  bush  or  low  tree ;  rudely  made  of  twij^s  and  sea-weed 

^^^^^.     1-2;  chalky   white;  si.e   very   variable,  average  about   2.J5  X 

'I"he  Booby  is  found  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  islands  and  deso- 
late sea-coasts  throt.ghout  all  the  warm  and  temperate  parts  <.f 
the  globe,  and  has  acquired  its  degrading  name  from  its  silly 
aspect  and  peculiar  stupidity,  suffering  itself  to  be  taken   not 
only  at  sea  on  the  ship's  yards,  but  also  on  land,  where  these 
birds  may  be  despatched  merely  with  clubs  ami  sticks  in  gre  it 
numbers  one  after  the  other,  withotit  seeming  to  take  anv  general 
alarm,  or  using  any  effi<ient  effort  for  escape.     The  only  cause 
that  can  be  assigne<I   for  this  want  of  conservative   instin,:t,  so 
general    an<l  prompt  among  most  of  the   feathere.l    tribes    is 
probably  the  fact  of  the  difficulty  an.I   almost   impossibility  of 
setting  the.r  long  wings  into  motion  when  they  happen  to'  be 
suri.rised  on  level  groun<l,  or  fatigued  with  undue  exertion 

I  he  IJoobies.  however,  have  a  domesti,:  enemy  more  steady, 
though  less  bloo.hhirsty,  in  his  persecutions  than  man  ;  this  ,s 
the  Ir.gate  Pelican,  or  Man-of-War  Hird.  who  with  a  keen  eye 
descrying  his  humble  vassal  at  a  distance,  pursues  him  without 
intermission,  and  obliges  him  by  blows  with  the  wings  an.l  bill 
to  surrender  his  finny  prey,  which  the  pirate  instantly  sei/.es 
and  swallows. 

The  Hoobies,  however,  notwithstan.ling  this  tribute  to  their 
marine  monarch,  contrive  to  obtain  an  ample  supply  of  provi- 
sion. J  hey  conmionly  hover  above  the  surfice  of  the  waves 
at  times  scarcely  moving  their  wings,  and  drop  on  a  fish  the' 
instant  it  emerges  or  approaches  in  view.  Their  llight.  though 
rapid  and  long-sustained,  is  greatly  infcTior  to  that  of  the 
l-rigate   Bird;  accordingly,  they  do  not  roam  so  far.  and  the.r 


i>  11'  ■, 


\\'^^■ 


380 


SWIMMKRS, 


appearance  is  generally  hailed  by  mariners  as  an  indication  of 
the  approach  of  land.  Vet  numbers  are  not  wanting  around 
the  remotest  and  most  seciuestered  islands  in  the  midst  of  the 
wide  ocean.  'Ihere  they  live  in  companies,  associated  with 
(iulls,  'JYopic  liirds,  and  their  tyrannical  persecutor,  the  Frigate, 
who,  ap|)reciating  their  assistance  as  providers,  dwells  and  rests 
in  the  same  retreats. 

Among  the  Frigates,  some  (probably  the  males  afti  .  incuba- 
tion) live  in  societies  apart  from  the  rest,  dispersed  to  situations 
most  suitable  for  obtaining  ])illage. 

Hoobies  utter  a  loud  cry,  something  in  sound  betwixt  that 
of  the  Raven  and  the  (loose;  and  this  cpiailing  is  heanl  more 
particularly  when  they  are  pursued  by  the  Frigate,  or  when, 
assembled  together,  they  hapi)en  to  be  seized  by  any  sudden 
panic.  As  they  can  only  begin  the  motion  of  their  wings  by 
starting  from  some  lofty  station,  they  usually  perch  like  Cormo- 
rants, and  in  flying  stretch  out  the  neck  and  display  the  tail. 

According  to  Dampier,  in  the  Isle  of  Aves  these  birds  breed 
on  trees,  though  in  other  places  they  nestle  on  the  grotmd,  and 
always  associate  in  numbers  in  the  same  i)lace.  They  lay  one 
or  two  eggs,  and  the  young  continue  for  a  long  time  covered 
for  the  most  jiart  with  a  very  soft  and  white  down.  The  flesh 
is  black  and  imsavory,  yet  sailors  freipiently  make  a  meal  of 
it.  In  summer  they  are  not  uncommon  on  the  coasts  of  the 
Southern  States. 

The  Iioohy  is  cliiefiy  restricted  to  the  tropical  or  sub-tropical 
seas,  but  an  occasiDuai  exanii)lo  wanders  as  far  north  as  off  the 
coast  of  (ieorgia. 


NoTF'..  — The  Hi.i'K-iAci.n  Hoop.v  (Sn/a  cv(j>i(>/>s)  and  the  Ri:o- 
KooTia)  r.ooiiv  (.S'//A^ //.*•( v/Av)  occasionally  straggle  north  to  the 
Florida  watcis  ;  and  the  A\mi\(;a  (.lii/iiiii^'a  an/iiiii^ti),  also  a  trop- 
ical bird,  ha.s  been  taken  off  North  Carolina  and  on  the  .Mississippi 
River. 


indication  of 
nting  around 

midst  of  the 
isociated  with 
r.  the  I'"rigat(.', 
t'lls  and  rests 

afti  I  incul)a- 
I  to  situations 

betwixt  that 

heard  more 
te,  or  when, 

any  sudden 
eir  wings  l)y 
hke  Cormo- 
/  the  tail. 

liirds  breetl 

ground,  and 

hey  lay  one 

lie  covered 

'Ihe  flesh 

a  meal  of 
asts  of  the 


sul>tro])icaI 
I  as  off  the 


(1  tlie  Ri-D- 
^rth  to  the 
also  a  trop- 
Mississippi 


RFJ)-j}ri,rj:n  tropic  bird. 

I'HAK IIION    .KTIIKKMS. 

Char.     Prevailing  color  white;  iIk-  upper  parts  varied  witii  blackish  ; 
a  s  rjpe  on  the  .,<ies  ot  the  head,  a.ul  the  outer  wing-teati,ers  deep  blaek ' 

fca  he  >,  .  iK.u    3,^  mehes  ;   the  tail-teathers  nieaMue  about  .o  inVhes 
/U-./.     In  a  hole  or  crevice  of  a  se.-wa.hcd  cliff.  -  sometimes  slightly 

Inied  with  twigs  and  coarse  hirbage. 

/■v.--      I  ;  I)Mrplish  white  or  creamy  white,  with  a  delicate  ptnple  tin-c 

and  marked  with  line  >i-ots  of  rich  brown  ;  2.26  X  t.6o. 

The  Tropic  Hinl,  soaring  perpetuallv  over  the  tepid  seas, 
where  it  dwells  without  materially  straying  beyvMid  the  vergj 
of  the  ecliptic,  seems  to  attend  the  car  of  the' sun  imder  the 


382 


ki:i)-|{iLi.!:i/  ikoi'ic  hird. 


!' 


I  »i:  r 


m 


,      M 


mild  /one  of  the  tropics,  and  advcrtists  the  mariner  with  un- 
erring certainty  of  his  entrance  within  the  torrid  chmes.  \ct 
tlioiigh  generally  confined  to  these  more  favored  solar  realms, 
which  it  widely  explores  to  their  utmost  bounds,  it  sometimes 
strays  beyond  the  favorite  limit,  and  hence  we  have  given  it 
a  place  among  the  oceanic  birds  which  stray  in  summer  to  the 
coasts  of  the  warmer  States. 

'i'he  llight  of  the  Tropic  I5ird  is  often  conihicted  to  a  pro- 
digious height,  at  which  in  every  season  it  can  o])tain  a  tem- 
perature of  the  most  delightful  kind.  At  other  times,  affected 
by  the  ordinary  wants  of  nature,  it  descends  from  its  lofty 
station,  and  accompanied  by  an  ignoble  throng  of  I-'rigates, 
Pelicans,  and  J  loobies,  it  attends  the  appearance  of  the  llving- 
fish  as  they  emerge  from  the  water,  pursued  by  their  enemies 
of  the  deep.  Ihese  birds  are  sometimes  observed  U)  rest  on 
the  surface  of  the  sea,  and  have  been  seen  in  calm  weather 
upon  the  backs  of  the  drowsy  tortoises  supinely  tloating,  so  that 
they  have  been  easily  taken  by  allowing  the  approach  of  a 
boat.  On  shore  they  will  ])erch  on  trees,  and  are  said  U)  breed 
on  the  grounil  beneath  the  shade  of  the  adjoining  woods. 
'I'hey  are  met  with  on  the  islands  of  .St.  Helena,  .\scension, 
Mauritius,  New  Holland,  and  in  various  parts  of  the  Scnuh 
.Seas,  but  in  no  pla(  e  are  they  so  numerous  as  at  I'ahnerston 
Island,  where,  along  with  the  l"'rigates,  they  have  been  seen  in 
such  plenty  that  the  trees  were  absolutely  loaded  with  them, 
and  so  tame  or  listless  that  they  suffered  themselves  to  be  taken 
from  the  boughs  bv  hand.  In  the  Sandwich  and  I'rieiidlv 
Islan<ls,  where  they  also  abound,  the  natives  set  a  high  value 
on  the  long  tail-feathers,  made  use  of  by  way  of  ornament,  and 
in  Otaheite  they  form  a  conspicuous  part  of  the  ostentatious 
garment  worn  by  mourners.  The  llesh,  though  often  eaten  by 
mariners,  cannot  be  accounted  good. 

Tills  cannot  bt  considered  more  tlian  an  accidental  straggler  to 
Nortlu'in  waters,  tlioiigli  examples  have  been  taken  as  far  north  as 
the  Ciult  of  St.  Lawrence. 

>j(vrK.  —  The  Vi.r.i.ow-iui.i.i.i)  Tkoimc  Bird  {P .  Jlavirostris) 
has  been  taken  in  Western  New  ^■(>^k. 


' 


er  with  un- 
imes.  \'ct 
>lar  realms, 
sometimes 
vc  j;iven  it 
imer  to  the 

1  to  a  pro- 
lain  a  tcm- 
es.  affected 
111   its   lofty 
)f  I'Vii^^ates, 
the  living- 
Mr  enemies 
t(j  rest  on 
Ini  weather 
ing,  SI)  that 
roarli  of  a 
id  to  l)rced 
ing  woods. 
.\s('ensi(jn, 
the   South 
ihnerston 
n  seen  in 
th  them, 
l)e  taken 
I'ririidly 
gh  value 
ment,  and 
entatious 
eaten  by 

tragglor  to 
iiortli  as 

■virostris) 


■/.» 


&■ 


\^my'^f^^^- 


iioRMi)  (;Ri;r,i-:. 

si'iKii'  DLCK.     iii:i.i.  i)i\i:i<.     i)i>Kv  (iKt:!;!:. 

("i)i.VMIU>    AIKIIIS. 

("MAU.  L'piicr  parts  dull  liinwn,  the  featiuis  paler  on  ihe  cdi^cs  ;  lu  ad 
darker;  l)rcast  rufDiis;  wini;^  varied  with  while;  lnwir  pari>  sil\trv 
white.  I.eimth  abmit  14  iiKhcrf.  In  the  iiiatinj;  seaxiii  tlic  >i(Jes  of  the 
head  are  adnrned  with  crests  (horns)  of  >hiMt  leathers  <if  black  cdhir. 

^\(V/.  Amid  the  rank  hubaine  on  reedv  margin  nl  a  lake, —  usiialiv 
fasti'iied  to  rnslies  and  tliiatin;^  on  the  surface  ot  shallow  water;  a  mass 
of  dried  -.terns  of  rushes  and  coarse  sedges. 

£i,''A'-'''-     -~7  (usually  .( )  ;  Muish  wliite,  stained  with  brown  ;  i.So  y  1.20. 

The  Horned  (irebe  is  an  inh;ibitant  of  the  northern  regions 
of  both  continents,  lieiilg  very  coinmon  in  the  siininier  sensoii 
throughout  the  Hudson  i!ay  fur  countries,  frfipiciiting  ahiin^t 
every  lake  with  grassv  borders,  in  whi(  h  seclusion,  about  ilic 
month  of  Jiuie.  it  constructs  its  nest  id"  ( oarse  herbage,  which, 
left  atloat,  is  sometimes  moored  to  the  surrotniding  reeds  ;ind 
rushes.  The  eggs  ;ire  white.  s|)(itteil.  and.  ;is  it  wiTc,  soiled 
with  brown  :  in  order  ti>  hide  them  from  its  enemies,  it  has 
the  habit  of  covering  them  while  ;ibioad.  In  the  ;uittHun  these 
birds  retire  to  the  South,  ai)])e;iring  in    Massachusetts,  some- 


« 


3«4 


DIVLKS. 


I 


times,  in  tlic  small  freshwater  lakes  near  the  ocean.  At  a  later 
period  they  retire  si  ill  farther,  heinj^  verve  ommon  in  the  Miildle 
and  Southern  States,  where  they  are  known,  witii  other  species, 
by  the  name  of  Dippers  and  Waur  W  iu  hes.  i  he  Indians  of 
Hudson  Ikiy  yive  the  Horned  (irehe  the  name  of  .SVv/vvy^. 
While  here,  they  keep  generally  in  the  salt  water,  swimming 
and  diving  with  great  agility  and  elegance,  and  tlusi-  are  almost 
universally  young  binls,  the  old  ones  keeping  probably  more 
inland  m  their  migrati(jns  towards  the  South.  In  most  of  the 
individuals  which  have  fallen  umler  my  noli<  e,  the  stoUKu  h, 
like  a  pouch  in  form,  has  been  geiu'rali)  swelleil  out  with  its 
own  feathers,  apparently  bent  and  masticated  before  swallowing  ; 
the  birds  had  been  feeding  on  minute  eels  and  coleopterous 
insects,  and  hail,  besides  the  matted  fralhcrs  plucked  from  the 
breast,  a  (,!!anlity  of  sand  and  gravel.  The  appetite  of  this 
(Irebe  is,  indeed,  keen  and  little  scrupulous,  —  for  which,  some- 
times it  jKiys  a  dear  forfeit,  as  happeiieil  to  an  iiidi\idual  seen 
by  Mr.  X.Wyeth.  which  had  its  bill  clasped  in  the  shell  of  a  clam 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  disable  it  both  from  living  and  diving. 

This  expert  diver  is  a  coniiiuiii  bird  througliout  this  eastern  coun- 
try. I)ree(ling  from  alioiit  lalitmle  45  to  the  higher  fur  countries, 
and  wintering  from  the  Bav  ot  Kundv  to  the  Southern  States. 


ihi. 


HOI.IKKI.I.'S   CRKUE. 

KKD-MvCKF.n   (iKKUF.. 

Coi.vMiifs  inu.i'.d.M.u. 

('ii\R.  l'p|)cr  p.Tits  diiskv :  head  .ind  nnnc  hlack' ;  checks  asliy ;  neck 
ricli  I'licstnnt ;  winn^  vaiicd  with  wliite ;  undL-r  parts  silvery  white,  varied 
with  uray.     I,eni;lli  abniit  19  iiu  In  s. 

A',:\-/.  On  the  border  of  a  rocdv  pond  or  sliigijish  stream,  fastened  tf) 
the  rank  herljajre,  —  made  of  recnls  and  ^t'd'j;e-i. 

/•.'i,Vf-  2-7;  dull  white,  soniotiines  tinu;ed  with  jj,reen,  waslied  with 
brown;    average  si/e  225  X  1  ;5. 

'i'he  Red-necked  ('irel)e,  like  most  of  the  other  species, 
retires  to  the  hyperboreal  regions  of  both  continents  to  pass 


liOLi!(i;i.i;s  L.ki:ui:. 


n.     At  a  later 

in  the  Middle 

otiier  spfcics, 

lit-  Indians  of 

<^r,  swiiiuning 
sf  arc  almost 
robaI)|y  more 
1  most  of  tlic 
tlie  st(ima(  h, 
out  witli  its 
■  sw.illowing  ; 
<-olc'o|)tt'rous 
vcii  from  the 
'(-•tite  of  this 
vhich.  somr- 
lividiial  si'cn 
t'll  of  a  clam 
111(1  diviiiir. 

'.■istorn  foiin- 
iir  countries, 
States. 


3^5 


^  ashy ;  neck 
ivliitc,  varied 

fastened  tf) 

I'ashed  with 


the  l,ree.iing-season.  .leliKhtinK  in  the  seclusion  of  the  .Icsolate 
wilderness,  penetrating  in  the  present  continent  as  f.r  as  the 
rnnote  mlan.l  shores  of  (ireat  Slave  Lake,  where  indi^dnals 
were  observed  by  Captain  Kn.nkiin's  adventurous  partv  in  the 
— ;tho    -May.      In  the  c<,urse  of  the  winter  these  birds  pro. 
-ed  to  the  Sonth.  probably  .s  far  as  Florida,  but  are  rarelv  'c.n 
■n  the  I  mted  States.     At  th.s  season  they  fre,,uent  lake's  and 
he  estuaries  or  rivers  in  the  vicinity  of  the  sea,  but  at  other 
tunes  are  seen   more  abundantly  on  fresh  waters.     Thev   ire 
common  in  the  eastern  parts  of  lanope,  and  fre<,uentK' visit 
^-reat  britain,  (lermany,  and  Switzerland.    Their  food,  as  u  ,ual 
■s  small   fish,  fry,  rej.tiles.  coleopterous  insects,  aiul  vegetables' 

Ihe  nest  IS  similar  to  that  of  the  preceding  species  ;   the  c s 

nt.mbcr  three  or  four,  of  a  whitish  green,  and  appearing  as  if 
•soiled  with  yellowish  or  brown. 

Tl)f   Kccl-necked   Crchc  breeds  from  about  latitude  45°  to  the 
h'glier  fur  counlnes,  but  is  rather  uncommon  in  New  KnHan  I  ■  ,  d 
he  adjacent  provinces,  where  it  occurs  clnetlv  as  a  win  u-     sil^ 
It  IS  quite  abundant  in  .\binit(.ba.  ' 

In  common  will,  others  of  the  familv.  this  Crebe  is  an  exnert 
;  .ver.     Otten  it  will  sink  into  the  water  without  anvap,    rent  X 

also   ;''/"''■■  ""  '"■  ^'"■-    \'  '-^  ^"^  -^l-'-^  -^^'  '•-I-l  •swimmer 
also,  and  all   .  s  movements  on  ti,e  water  are  e.xtrem elv  gra.eful 
\\  hen  pursued,  these  birds  invariably  endeavor  to  escapj  bv  di"i      ' 

he!Vn' l''"'  ,"'''  "''  ^'"'''  '''^^'•'^  '''^'  "^'^^'y  '^•''^^■•'^•'l  voung  upon 
ead   "t^owif  m"^  "'"'  """  '"  ''''''  I--^i'>".  f-^li"«"thenC  wldle 

^  ch  :^  g^^r  •  "^  '"''"'"^  "^  ^"^ ''''  ■^'^'  ^^^^'^^  -^^-- 


VOL.    II. 


r  species, 
ts  to  pass 


!  ) 


I 


i?^'^''^ii^'-''Si«SB^'^*^*^ .'  ■ 


I'lKD-lJlI.I.Kn    C'.RF.P.K. 

LIITLF.   (iKKIJi:.      DAIJCIIICK.      lAHOF.INA    (IKF.BE. 
rolHI.NMlU'S    POKICKI'S. 

CllAR.  U|)per  parts  dusky,  winus  varied  with  nshv  and  white;  iindiT 
pans  silviTv  white,  mottled  with  dusky  ;  hieast  waslicd  witli  nifmis;  chin 
and  throat  blat  i\ ;  l)ill  sliort  and  tliick,  of  a  Ijiiiisli  wliite  color,  with  a  black 
band  across  the  centre.     Length  about  14  inches. 

A'rsL  Amid  the  rn>hes  at  (he  edge  of  a  pond  or  slujigish  stream, — 
made  of  coarse  herbage  lined  with  grass  ;  sometimes  floating  on  the  water, 
fastened  to  reeds. 

/'<V'-     4-10  (usually  5) ;  white  stained  with  i)alc  brown  ;  2.00  X  1.70. 

The  I'icd-bilkd  Daluliick  is  an  exclusive  inhal)itant  of  the 
North  .\inerican  continent,  proceeding  north  to  breed  as  far 
as  the  remote  fur  countries  of  Upper  Canada,  a  specimen  hav- 
ing been  killed  on  (ireat  Slave  Lake  by  the  exploiing  party 
of  C"a])tain  Franklin.  It  arrives  in  the  Northern  and  Middle 
States  abont  the  close  of  Angiist,  and  is  then  seen  residing  in 
our  small  tVeshwater  lakes  until  the  approach  of  winter,  when 
it  retires  ])robably  as  far  south  as  the  lagoons  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and  the  tidewater  streams  and  bays  of  the  Mexican 
(Inlf.  It  is  the  most  common  sjX'cies  in  the  I'nion,  and  is 
met  with  in  all  the  States  as  far  as  l'"lorida,  leaving  those  coim- 


i'n:M-i;ii,i.i:i)  ckkiii:. 


3»7 


tries   h.mvvcr,  tor  tlu-  North  in  th.  ,nontl,  of  April.     Most  of 
the  l.inis  seen  in  this  vi.  ,n«ty  are  yoMnj;  or  una.lult  ;   thev  tV-,| 
pnne.iMlly  on   fish  ami  a.,uatir  inset,  su,  h  as  lar^e  ArM. 
^•n.l  utiu-r  kn.ls.      1  h.y  often  sui.n  about  without  ap,.eann« 
to  l-'ke  any  alarm   fron,  the  peaceful  spertator,    hut    in    the 
lU'xt  moment  .live  an.l  swnu  un.Kr  water  for  su,  h  a  Irn.'ih  of 
time  as  to  appear  for  several  minutes  entirely  invisibl.';  ami 
at   su.h   tunes   these    Water   W  it.  hes.   as   thev  are   deservedly 
<.'ll^''l,  ;.re  often  niovinj?  about  entirely  submer^'ni  to  the  bill 
whi.:h  isthe  only  part   elevate  I  above-  the  water;   and  in  the' 
<'.vert  of  the  surroun.liuK  a.piati.'  herb.ige  this  small   pn.jc,  t- 
mK   pouu    .s   not   ,mly   easily   overlooked,  but   with    ditfiniltv 
-  "seoyere,!.      Like  Du.ks,  they  are  also  souuwhat  no.  t.irnal  in 
tlH-.r  habits,  and  maybe  perceived  after  sunset   in  the  .lusky 
lvvili:;ht  n.-tively  enua^ed.  an.l  swimming  about  the  pon.ls  with 
>Ure:,t    a.tivity.      WhU,    1,,,,.    ,H,,    ,,,    „„^    ,^^.^,^,,   ,,,   ,_^,^,^ 

n^'te,  an.l  their  breeding-pla.-es  are  wholly  unkn.mn.  The 
young  are  often  eaten,  an-I  are  generally  ten.ler  an.l  well 
liavored. 

o„r.-'' .'.r"'""''   '\'T'  '■^'"'"•'••^"'   "^'-T-  th-   Atlantic-  than   any 
Jlu-eoumHr""'^'    ''"••-•^^'•"-'-  ^'"-"^  State,  to, h.,..w^ 
Since  Xuttall-s  day  wo    have  Icarnod    s.^mething  more  of  the 
I'rcc.hng  hah.ts  „    this  sp.dcs.  and  modern  obsu.;rs  arc  a  ,t  t 
express  .urpnse  that  the  bird  sh,n,l,I  have  cs.^aped  th.-  not  ,'e 

alhtrStrcbcl''"^''^^''^^^^^'^^^^ 


b  • 


:i 


111 


i^H 


-  -v. 


.^Sf-^..  §■ 


_  <'   ' 


•  -♦—  .  -zS5»»»-"^  -  ' 


--T?T 


LOON. 
c,Ki:.\r  n(iktiif:k\  diver. 

L'klNAriiU    IMIll.k. 

Chak.  Mantle  1)lacl<,  spottLil  with  wlntc :  licnd  and  iicck  hlack.  with 
grcfi)  and  purple  ictkcti(His ;  tluMat  witli  two  bands  df  wliiie  snipes: 
inidcr  |)arts  wliite.  l,en,ytli  very  variable,  raniiing  from  2S  to  33  inelies, 
thongh  specimens  measuring;  alxuit  the  extremes  of  this  variation  arc 
more  eonimon  than  those  ot'  intermediate  length. 

.\',-/.  Amid  rank  lierliagc  near  the  water,  on  the  marL;m  of  a  lake  or 
river,  often  on  an  island,  sometimes  on  the  sea-shore. 

/'.X'X'v.  --,1  (nsnallv  2);  olive  brown  witli  a  few  d.irkcr  sjiots;  average 
size  ;d)onl  j;.50  X  2.2;. 

The  l.oon.  the  most  common  of  its  iril)o  in  the  United 
States,  is  a  gene'al  iiihahitant  of  cold  and  temperate  chmatcs 
throtiiiliout  the  whole  northei-n  hemisphere.  It  is  found  in 
the  north  of  l'airo])e,  and  spreads  along  the  Arctic  coasts  as 
far  as  Kamtschatka,  Nootka  Sound,  and  the  month  of  the  Ob. 
It  dwells  on  the  dreary  coast  of  Spitzbergen.  Greenland,  Ice- 
land, and  Hudson  i'.ay.  These  birds  aboinid  in  all  the  lakes  of 
the  fur  countries,  where,  as  well  as  in  the  interior  of  the  most 


li'  ^ 


I 


LOO\. 


389 


black,  with 
ile  stripes : 
'  3.3  inches, 
iriatidii  are 

)f  a  hike  nr 

s;  average 

e  I'nitod 
'  climates 
found  in 
coasts  as 
'  the  Oh. 
ind,  Ice- 
?  lakes  of 
the  most 


northern  of  the  States,  and  prol,al,ly  in  the  inland  seas  of  the 
St.   J,awrence,  along  the  whole  Canadian   line,  thev  pass  the 
period  of  reproduction.     They  have  been  Inown  to  breed  as 
far  south  as  the  Fame  Isles,  on  the  coast  of  .Northumberland, 
along  with  the  I'ider  Ducks,  with  which  thev  also  ass<xiate  on 
the  shores  ot   Labrador.     In  the  Hebri.les  thev  are  common 
in  the   simimer  season,  as  well  as  in  Xorwav,  Swe<len    and 
Russia,  from  all  which  countries  they  seldom  migrate  to  my 
considerable  distance,  being  only  accidental  passengers  on  the 
coasts  of  the  ocean;   the  young  only  are  seen,  and   rarelv,  on 
the  lakes  of  (lermany,  I'rance,  and  Switzerland.  i)iit   in   tho.se 
regions  the  old  are  unknown.     In  the  Lnited  States,  from  the 
superior  severity  of  the  winters,  the  young,  and  even  occasion- 
ally the  old,  are  seen  to  migrate  nearlv,  if  not  .|uite,  to  the 
estuary  of  the   Mississip])i. 

'i"he   I.oon,  ciutiotis.  vigilant,  and   fon.I  of  the   sntiritv   it- 
tending  upon  s,.litude,  generally  selects,  with   his  ni.tte    some 
lonely   islet,   or   the   bonlers   of  a    retired    lake    tar    fro'm   the 
haunts  of  men  ;   here,  on  the  ground,  contiguous  to  the  water 
they  construct  then-  rude  and  grassv   nest.      .\b.nit  the    nth 
of  June,  through  the  kindness  of  Dr.   V.  \\\  Harris,  I  received 
three  eggs  which   had    been  taken    tn.m    the  nest  'uf  a   I  oon 
made   in  a   hummock,   or  elevated  grassv   iiillo,  k,   at  .Seba-,,' 
Pond,  in  New  Hampshire.     These  were  about   the  si/c-  of  the 
eggs  of  a  (loose,  of  a  <lark,  smoky  olive,  coarselv   blotched 
nearly  all  over  with  uml)er-l.rown  spots.     The  males,  after  the 
period  of  incubation.  se(-e<le   from   their  mates,  and  ass,,,  i;,te 
by  themselves  in  the  bays  an<l  estuaries  near  to  the  sea.    They 
soon  after  moult,  and   be.nme   s,.   bare   of  fe.ithers  as  to  be 
unable   to  rise   from  the  water.     The  young,  after  being  ,lnly 
attended  by  the  female  parent,  .lispersc-  with   her  towards  the 
sea.      Instinctively  warned  of  the  approa,  h  of  frost,  thev  avoi.l 
Its  consequences  by  slow  but  efficient  migrations.     .\s  .so,,n  as 
the  fish  begin  to  fiil,  the  young,  unable  or  unwilling  to  lly,  are 
sometimes  seen  wa.hlling  from  one  pond  to  another,  an-V  in 
this  situation  are  easily  captured,  as  they  refuse,  ,)r  are  inca- 
pacitated, to  rise  from  the  grotin.l.     When  approached,  ihey 


WT 


390 


DIVERS. 


mi 
1 1 •  '< ' 


I'l 


iiN. 


uUer  a  long-drawn,  nu'lancholy  scream,  like  o  ooh,  with  a  shrill, 
loud,  sighing,  and  rising  note.  Now  antl  then,  as  if  a  call  upon 
the  parent,  the  tone  is  broken  almost  in  the  manner  of  running 
the  finger  across  the  mouth  while  uttering  a  sound.  A  young 
bird  of  this  kind  which  1  obtained  in  the  salt-marsh  at  Chelsea 
Ik-ach,  and  transferred  to  a  fish-pond,  made  a  good  deal  of 
l)laint,  and  would  sometimes  wander  out  of  its  more  natural 
element,  and  hide  and  bask  in  the  grass.  ()\\  these  occasions 
it  lay  very  still  until  nearly  approac  hed,  and  then  slid  into 
the  pond  and  uttered  its  usual  plaint.  W  hen  out  at  any  dis- 
tance, it  made  the  same  cautious  efforts  tt)  hide,  and  would 
ct)mmonly  defend  itself  in  great  anger,  by  darting  at  the  in- 
truder and  striking  powerfully  with  its  dagger-like  bill.  This 
bird,  with  a  pink-colored  iris,  like  albinos,  a])i)eared  to  suffer 
from  the  glare  of  broad  dayligiit,  and  was  inclined  to  hide  from 
its  effects,  but  became  very  active  towards  the  dusk  of  even- 
ing, 'ihe  ])U])il  of  the  eye  in  this  individual,  like  that  of 
nocturnal  animals,  appeared  indeed  dilatable  ;  and  the  one  in 
question  often  i)ut  down  its  head  and  eyes  into  the  water  to 
observe  the  situation  of  its  prey.  This  bird  was  a  most  expert 
and  indefatigable  diver,  and  would  remain  down  sometimes 
for  several  minutes,  often  swimming  under  water,  and  as  it 
were  flying  with  the  velocity  of  an  arrow  in  the  air.  Though 
at  length  inclined  to  be  docile,  and  showing  no  alarm  when 
visited,  it  constantly  betrayed  its  wandering  habit,  and  every 
night  was  found  to  have  waddled  to  some  hid(ling-])lace. 
where  it  seemed  to  ]^refer  hunger  to  the  loss  of  liberty,  and 
never  could  l)e  restrained  from  exercising  its  instinct  to  move 
onwards  to  some  secure  or  more  suitable  asylum. 

Far  out  at  sea  in  winter,  and  in  the  (Ireat  Western  Lakes, 
particularly  Huron  and  Michigan,  in  summer,  I  have  often 
heard  on  a  fine  calm  morning  the  sad  and  wf)lfish  call  of  the 
solitary  Loon,  which  like  a  dismal  echo  seems  slowly  to  invade 
the  ear,  and  rising  as  it  proceeds,  dies  away  in  the  air.  This 
boding  sound  to  mariners,  supjiosed  to  be  indicative  of  a  storm, 
may  be  hear^i  sometimes  for  two  or  three  miles,  when  the  bird 
itself  is  invisible,  or  reduced  almost  to  a  speck  in  the  distance. 


lU,ACK-TllK()Ari;i)    L()0\. 


y. 


f)I 


,  with  a  shrill, 
if  a  call  upon 
er  of  running 
(1.     A  young 
sh  at  Chelsea 
jood  (leal  of 
more  natural 
'se  occasions 
len  slid    into 
t  at  any  dis- 
,  and  \vt)uld 
ig  at  the  in- 
e  bill.     This 
red  to  suffer 
to  hide  from 
isk  of  even- 
like that  of 
1  the  one  in 
the  water  to 
most  expert 
I  sometimes 
',   and  as  it 
r.     Though 
alarm  when 
,  and  e\ery 
Iding-place, 
liberty,  and 
let  to  move 

tern  Lakes, 
have  often 
call  of  the 
y  to  invade 
■  air.  This 
of  a  storm, 
en  the  bird 
le  distance. 


Ihe  aboriguies,  nearly  as  suj.erstitious  as  sailors,  dislike  to 
hear  the  cry  of  the  Loon,  considering  the  l)ird,  from  its  shy 
and  extraordinary  habits,  as  a  sort  of  supernatural  ])eing  |!y 
the  Norwegians  its  long-drawn  howl  is.  with  more  appe.irance 
of  reason,  sui)posed  to  portend  rain,  judging,  however,  from' 
the  young  bird  alrea.ly  mentioned,  this  expression,  like  that 
of  other  towls,  indicatetl  nothing  beyond  the  humble  wants  or 
social  communication  of  the  species. 

The   tlesh  of  the   Loon  is  dark,  tough,  and  uni)alatal)le  ;   yet 
the   young  birds  are   frequently  seen  in   the  markets  of  New 
York  and  lioston,  an<l  are  therefore  no  doubt  sometimes  eaten. 
Some  of  the   Russian  Tartars  on  the  Ob  and   the  Irtisch   tan 
the  breasts  of  this  and  other  water-fowl,  preserving  the  down 
upon  them,  and  sewing  them  together,  sell  them  for  garments 
and  caps.     The  C'.reenlanders,  as  well  as  the  aborigines  round 
Hudson   I'>ay  and    on   the   Ijanks  of  the  Columbia  ^<iver,  em- 
ploy their  skins  as  articles  of  dress  or  of  decoration;   and  the 
Indians  of  the  Afissouri  and   Mississippi  also  often  (ornament 
the  sacred  calumet  with  the  brilliant  neck-feathers  of  this  and 
other  species. 

The  Loon  is  found  throughout  tliis  Eastern  Province,  hreedincr 
from  about  latitude  42°  to  the  Arctic  Ocean.  It  winters  south  tS 
the  Gulf  of  .Mexico. 


BLACK- rHR()vn:n  loon. 

I'kinaior  arc  IICLS. 

Char.  Prevailins  color  ;il,nvu  black,  varied  with  white  ;  head  gravish 
brown;  chni  and  throat  bhuk,  wiih  a  patch  of  .short  white  streaks- 
streaks  uf  white  on  side  ui  neck  ;  im.lcr  parts  white.  I.en"th  aln-i.t  -6 
inches. 

Nest.  On  the  bank  of  an  i>land  lake,  —  a  holhnv  stamped  in  tlie  moss 
sparmgly  lined  with  grass,  or  sometimes  a  floating  mass  of  coarse  herb- 
age covered  with  moss  and  sedge. 

E.KXS.  Usually  2  ;  l)rown  of  an  olive  or  russet  tint,  and  marked  with 
dark  brown;  average  size  3.25  X  2.10. 

This  species,  common  to  the  hypcrborcal  jKirts  of  both 
continents,  is  much  more  rare  in  the  Cnited  States  than  the 


u 


it 
i 


..5.i. 


392 


divp:ks. 


precx'ding,  and  though  frequent  near  the  shores  of  Hudson 
]}ay,  is  seldom  seen  in  the  interior  of  the  fur  countries.  It 
abounds  in  the  northern  parts  of  luirope,  Norway,  Sweden, 
and  Denmark,  and  in  the  inhmd  lakes  of  Siberia,  especially 
those  of  the  Arctic  regions  ;  it  is  also  seen  in  Iceland,  (Ireen- 
land,  and  the  Faroe  Isles.  It  is  held  in  superstitious  regard 
by  the  Norwegians,  who  believe  its  cry  to  portend  rain.  I'iie 
skins  of  this  and  other  species,  being  tough  and  impervious 
to  wet,  are  used  by  the  Indians  and  Ks<iuimaux.  as  well  as 
by  the  Norwegians,  for  articles  of  dress. 

The  Arctic  Diver  is  an  autumnal  and  winter  bird  of  passage 
in  I'Jigland,  (Germany,  and  Holland,  more  rare  ujion  the  in- 
terior lakes  of  l-'rance,  but  common  u])on  those  of  Switzer- 
land. It  lives  on  fish,  frogs,  insects,  and  aijuatic  plants,  and 
nests  in  the  reeds  and  herbage  upon  the  borders  of  lakes  and 
in  marshes,  preferring  those  which  are  much  intersected  by 
waters  :  it  is  said  to  lay  two  eggs,  which  are  brown,  marked 
with  scattered  blatk  spots. 

The  Bhick-tliroatcd  Loon  is  somewhat  unconiinoii  evorvwiicre 
witliiii  its  range,  but  is  es])L'ciallv  rare  on  this  castum  sidu  of  the 
Atlantic.  It  breeds  in  the  Far  North,  and  in  winter  lias  been  found 
as  far  south  as  the  l>ay  of  Fundy. 

This  is  a  rather  solitary  bird,  though  occasionallv  two  or  three 
pairs  breed  on  the  same  lake,  but  rarely  associate.  In  the  migra- 
tion small  rioeks  are  sometimes  met  with. 


ii 


I     ' 


i  J 


of  Hudson 

untrics.     It 

ly,  Sweden, 

,  especially 

md,  (ireeii- 

tious  regard 

rain.      The 

impervious 

as  well   as 

of  passage 
on  the  in- 
of  Switzer- 
l)lants,  and 

lakes  and 
rsected  by 
i'n,  marked 


evcrywiiere 
side  of  tlie 
been  loiind 

o  or  three 
the  inigra- 


RKi)-'mHo\ri:i)  loox. 

TklNAlVrU     IIMMI. 

t'llAR.  ricv.iiliiii;  colni  liinwiii^h  l)la(U,  \;iiic(l  hv  ]).ilcr  .mil  ,i  I'rw 
spots  (if  wliiic;  lic;ul  ami  nui  k  li,i;lu  >latc  ,L;ray,  llu-  tluoat  witii  a  pali  li  n\ 
hrii^lit  clu-stiiiit  ;  under  part-  -ilkN-  wliiti-.     I.cnutli  alioiit  25  iin  lie-. 

.\'t\</.  (  )n  the  margin  uf  a  retired  pmid,  —  a  depie--iiiii  in  tlie  -and.  elo-e 
to  the  water'.s  edLie  :  sometime-  lineil  with  a  few  l)its  ot  i^ra>-. 

/',',:>.  I'suallv  :: ;  pale  lirown,  often  tini;ed  with  oii\e,  and  ^jintted 
with  dark  brown;  averat;e  si/e  aboiit  J. 75    ■;  I. So. 

This  species  is  ag.iiii  a  general  iiih,il)it:uit  of  the  northern 
regions  of  both  (ontiiU'iUs,  from  wheiu  e  few  migrate  to  any 
great  ilistance,  —  except  the  yoimu;.  ami  thi-se  are  seen  not  nn- 
commonlv  along  the  coasts  of  the  I'liited  St.ites  in  tlie  (oiirse 


■* 

r? 


p 


394 


DIVERS, 


I 


>"r 


of  the  winter.  Accon'ing  to  Richardson,  the^c  birds  frcciuent 
llic  shores  of  Hudson  liay  up  to  the  extremity  of  Mehiile  Pen- 
insula, and  are  also  abundant  on  the  interior  lakes,  where  they 
breed.  Mr.  Audubon  found  them  nesting  on  the  coast  of 
Labrador  near  small  freshwater  lakes.  'J'heir  food  is  similar 
U)  that  of  the  preix-dinjf  sjjccies.  Ideming  says  that  they 
breed  inZetland  and  the  ( )rkneys.  In  (ireenland  and  Iceland 
they  also  lay  among  the  herbage  on  the  shores  contiguous  to 
water,  and  make  a  nest  of  moss  and  grass,  lining  it  with  down. 
'I"he  young  of  this  species,  called  the  Cobble,  is  freciuently 
seen  in  I'lngland  in  the  winter  in  bays  and  inlets,  and  some- 
times in  freshwater  rivers  and  lakes.  In  the  ri\er  'i'hames 
this  bird  attends  the  arrival  of  the  s])rats,  on  which  it  feeils, 
and  is  hence  known  to  the  fishermen  by  the  name  of  the  .Sprat 
Loon.  From  its  diving  habits  it  is  freciuently  taken  in  the 
fishing-nets,  to  which  it  is  attracted  by  their  contents.  It  ilies 
well,  and  dives  and  swims  with  remarkable  dexterity,  and 
while  proceeding  in  the  air  is  said  to  be  sometimes  very  noisy. 
At  Hudson  Ikiy  the  young  lly  before  the  end  of  August,  and 
the  whole  commence  their  migrations  in  the  course  of  Sep- 
tember. These  birds  are  common  also  to  the  Ikdtic  and  the 
White  Sea,  and  are  found  in  the  inclement  regions  of  eastern 
Asia,  as  in  Kamtschatka  and  Siberia. 

This  species  breeds  in  high  latitudes,  and  winters  from  about 
latitude  45    southward. 


(Is  fre(iucnt 
clvillo  iVii- 
whcrc  tlu'y 
ic  coast  of 
I  is  similar 

tiiat  tiu'V 
ml  Ireland 
itiguotis  to 
with  down. 

l"rc(HK'ntly 
and  sonie- 
er  'IhaniLS 

li  it  feeds, 
if  the  Sprat 
cen  in  the 
s.  It  ilies 
terity.  and 
very  noisy, 
.ugiist,  and 
se  of  Sej)- 
and  the 
)f  eastern 

roiii  about 


rd.ACK   GUIII.FMOT. 

SKA    I'K.KON. 
C'l.I'l'fllS   CRVI.I.K. 

Char.  Prcvailiiig  color  black  ;  large  i)atcli  on  the  wings  white,  witli  a 
l)lai  k  bar,  sometimes  wholly  or  partially  concealed  ;  bill  black  ;  legs  aiut 
feet  bright  reel.  Length  about  13  inches.  In  winter  the  upjier  parts  are 
varied  with  white,  and  the  lower  parts  mostly  white;  feet  pinki>h. 

AV.f/.  On  a  rock-lx)nnd  coast,  placed  on  the  ledge  of  a  cliff,  m  under 
loose  bowlders  on  the  top  of  a  bluff;  sometimes  amid  the  shingle  of  a 
beach;  no  attempt  is  nuule  at  nest-building  ;  the  eggs  are  clepii>ited  mi 
the  bare  rocks. 

Ai,V->'-  --J  (usually  2).  ivory  white,  somciimes  tinged  with  bluish 
green,  marked  witli  rich  brown  ;ind  gray;  2.30  x  1  60. 

The  lilaek  Ciiiilleniot  is  a  general  inhabitant  of  the  whole 
.Arctic  seas  of  both  continents.  It  has  even  l)een  called  tiie 
Dove  of  (Ireenland,  being  common  in  that  coimtry,  as  well  as 


^'!  •    * 


396 


DIVLRS. 


tllf' 


1' 


M  ■'. 


il .' 


I 

I  : 


i 


i 


on  the  still  more  dreary  coasts  of  Spitzbergen  In  the  hyper- 
boreal  seas  and  straits  u{  America  it  also  abounds,  from  the 
inclement  shores  of  Melville  Island  down  to  Hudson  15ay 
and  Labrador.  According  to  Mr.  Audubon  it  also  breeds  on 
the  isle  of  (Irand  Menan,  in  the  Hay  of  Fundy.  Like  the 
other  Ouillemots,  these  birds  are  entirely  marine,  never  going 
inland,  and  rarely  seek  the  coast  but  for  the  indispensable  pur- 
pose of  reproduction.  In  the  cold  and  desolate  regions  of 
the  North,  abandoned  by  nearly  every  other  animal,  the  (iuille- 
mots,  though  in  diminished  numbers,  find  means  to  pass  the 
winter;  frctpienting  at  such  times  the  pools  of  open  \v;Uer, 
which  occur  even  in  these  high  latitudes  amongst  the  floes  of 
ice.  Others,  but  in  small  numbers,  and  those  ])robably  bred 
in  lower  latitudes,  venture  in  the  winter  along  the  coasts  of 
the  United  States.  In  I'lurope  they  are  also  seen  at  this  sea- 
son along  the  borders  of  the  Atlantic.  They  are  alike  imlig- 
enous  to  the  western  side  of  the  American  continent,  and 
occur  in  Kamtschatka.  At  St.  Kilda,  on  the  l>ass  Isle,  in  the 
I'Mrth  of  l-'orlh.  in  the  l*"arne  Islands,  off  the  coast  of  Northum- 
berland, and  on  some  ]iarts  of  the  coast  of  Wales,  particularly 
near  Tenby,  they  are  known  U)  breed. 

They  fly  comnKjnly  in  pairs  with  considerable  ra])idity,  al- 
most grazing  the  surface  of  the  sea,  but  at  other  times  they 
proceed  in  a  more  elevated  course.  Their  note,  according  to 
.Audubon,  is  a  contracted  whistle.  They  nestle  sometimes 
under  grt)und,  but  more  commonly  in  the  deep  and  rocky 
fissures  of  inaccessible  cliffs  and  bold  headlands  jjrojecting  into 
the  sea.  To  avoid  the  access  of  water  to  the  eggs,  they  com- 
monly ]iile  together  a  nest  of  pebbles,  beneath  which  the 
rain-water  or  melting  snow  ])asses  off  without  any  injury  or 
inconvenience.  To  escape  becoming  the  ])rey  of  the  foxes 
which  incessantly  watch  for  them,  the  young,  when  jMished  to 
the  necessity,  throw  themselves  without  difficulty  from  their 
im])ending  eyries  into  the  sea.  These  birds  dive  with  great 
facility,  and  feed  upon  small  fish,  but  particularly  on  shrimps, 
small  crabs,  and  other  Crustacea,  and  marine  insects.  They 
show  considerable  vigilance   on   being   approached,   and   are 


1^ 


liLACK    ULII.I.LMOT. 


397 


much  more  shy  and  wary  than  the  other  (luillemots.  The 
eggs  (called  improperly  those  of  the  Noddy)  are  brought 
sometimes  in  small  coasting-vessels  to  Boston  market. 

There  are  two  races  of  the  Sea  Pigeon  in  our  fauna.  — for 
iMandt's  (utillemot  is  only  a  XortiitTn  race  or  variety  of  the  i)re.s- 
ent  .species.  — auil  of  these  the  lilack  CuiiJLMnot  is  tiie  nn.ri'  south- 
ern in  distribution,  brefding  from  the  I5ay  ot  Fuiuly  to  soutiiorn 
Labrador.  In  winter  it  is  rather  conunoii  on  tiic  New  Kngl.md 
siiores.  and  a  few  examples  wamler  as  far  south  as  .\l-w  Jersey. 

I  dill  not  lind  these  birds  as  shy  as  Xultall's  statement  led  me  to 
anticipate.  They  were  somewhat  wary  and  alert,  but  allowed  me 
to  paddle  within  easy  sliooting  distance  without  disi)laying  nnich 
alarm.  When  they  finally  concluded  that  I  was  an  uiisafe  nei^h- 
bor,  they  lost  no  time  in  getting  out  of  mv  sigiit.  ihving  with  sur- 
prising suddenne.s.s.  They  usually  swam'  a  lon.t;  distance  under 
water  witli  great  rapidity,  using  their  wings  as  well  as  feet,  and 
coming  to  the  surface  far  beyond  gimshot  ran.<;e. 

The  Sea  Pigeons  are  met  usually  in  small  tiocks  of  half  a 
dozen  or  more,  and  generally  feetl  in 'the  open  sea  at  the  base  of 
bold  cliffs.  When  on  the  wing  they  proceed  rapidlv  and  in  a 
straight  line,  and  rarely  more  than  a  few  feet  from  'the  surface 
of  the  water.  On  approching  their  nesting-site  tliey  rise  rather 
abruptly,  and  tly  directly  to  their  nests. 


NoTK.---  Mandt's  (a-ii.LKMoT  {C .  iiiaiuUii)  is  a  northern  variety 
of  the  Sea  Pigeon,  dilfering  from  o^iylle  in  lacking  the  black  bar 
on  the  wing-patch,  and  having  a  somewhat  stouter  bill.  It  breeds 
from  high  Arctic  regions  to  the  coast  of  Labrador  and  Hudson  Pay. 
and  in  winter  may  be  found  off  the  Atlantic  shores  from  soui'li 
Greenland  to  New  Jersey,  though  it  is  not  at  all  common  alon-,^ 
the  southern  portion  of  its  range. 

The  BLACK-wi\(ii:r)  ( irii.i.KMor  {(\  mot::fch{i)  is  said  to  occur 
on  the  shores  of  Cuml)erland  Hav  ami  in  Greenland. 


i 


HM' 


i 


I  i 


,,^^i//'^;:i'"'^"'^'^i 


I 


MURRE. 

FOOLISH  GUILLEMOT.     COMMON  GUILLEMOT.     I'ENCiUIN. 

Tria   luiMi.i:. 

Char.  Upper  parts  licli  velvet  Ijrown.  variable  in  tint;  under  parts 
white  ;  win<^s  with  a  small  white  ))atch  ;  bill  lon.t^  and  slender  and  of 
l)lack  color ;  legs  blackish,  wubs  ulivc.  Lenj;th  about  iS  inches  (female 
rather  smaller).  In  winter  the  chin,  tlircjat.  and  sides  of  nccU  beiome 
white,  n\orc  or  less  mottled  with  bhuk. 

A'i'i/.  On  a  letigc  of  an  ocean  cliff:  no  attemjit  is  made  to  construct 
a  reccjitacle  for  the  egt;,  —  it  is  laid  upon  the  b.iie  rock. 

/•-\,V-  i;  variable  in  color,  the  prevailing  tints  bcini,'  ivorv  white,  vel- 
lowish  Ljreen,  dark  green,  pale  blue,  and  rc-ddish  l)rown,  with  numerous 
intermediate  tints  ;  niarkini;s  irret:;ular.  and  of  browns  and  giays  in  vari- 
ous shades  ;  si/e  variable,  average  abmit  3.25  X   i  <)0. 

The  Foolisli  Citiilk'niot,  so  cnllcd  for  its  fatuity  in  the 
breeding-season,  in  allowiny:  itself  soinrtinies  to  i)e  seized 
by   the   hand    or   killed    on    the    s])ot   without    flying  from   its 


I 


Mi'Kki;. 


399 


a;uiN. 


iidcr  parts 
Icr  and  of 
les  (knialo 
k  become 

constnict 

white,  yel- 

n  lime  in  us 

ys  in  vari- 

■  in  the 
e  seized 
from  its 


favorite  cliffs,  is  another  sin-iilar  an<l  common   inhal)itant  of 
the  hi-h   northern   latitudes  of  both  continents.     In    llnrope 
these  hirds  extend  their  svvarming  colonies  as  far  as  the  ever 
wintry  coast  of  Spitzbergen  ;   they  are  als.i  seen   in  Lapmar.k 
and  along  the  White  and  Icy  Sea  as  far  as  Kamtschatka.     Along 
the  whole  coast  ,;f  Hudson  Hay,  Labrador,  and  Xewfo.mdland, 
they  congregate  in  swarms.     They  also   bred  in   the  Orkneys 
and  in  more  temperate  climates,  when  the  local  situation  hap- 
pens to  suit  their  partictilar  habits  and  instinct  :  thu^.  they  are 
extremely  numerous  in  the  desert  Isle  of  I'riestholm,  ci.ntiguous 
to  the  island  of  Anglesey,  on  the  Codreve  r.x  ks.  not   far' from 
St.  Ives,  in  Cornwall,  the  Fame  Isles,  off  the  coast  of  Northtmi- 
berlan.l,  and  the  cliffs  of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  of  Scarborough 
m    ^■orkshire.     Occasionally   the    V(nmg   are    seen    along    t'he 
coasts  of  the  L'nited  Slates;   but  the  great  body  of  the  species 
m  America,  acc(jr(ling  to  Audubon,  winter  in  the  llavof  Fundy, 
where   they  find   an    open  sea,  congenial   rocks,  and  a  cool 
temperature. 

'I'hese  binls  begin  to  assemble  on  their  customarv  cliffs  in 
Kngland  early  in  May,  and  crowil  together  in  such  numbers  that 
It  IS  not  uncommon  to  see  hundreds  sitting  upon  their  eggs  on 
the  ledge  of  a  rock,  all   in  a  line,  an.I   nearlv  touching"  each 
other.     They  lay  but  a  single  egg,  on  the   Hat  and   bare  rock, 
without  any  precaution  to  protect  it   or  the   progenv  arising 
from  it  by  any  shelter  or  convenience  at  all  like  a  nest.     It  is 
ofa])alish  green,  blotched  and  marked  with  black  and  deep 
umber  brown.     They  rarely  .piit  their  eggs  unless  disturbed. 
an.I  are  fed  .luring  the  time,  chietly  with   small   fish  or  other 
marine   productions,  by  the   male.      In   inaccessible   pla.es,  .ir 
where  seldom  disturbed,  it  is  with  .lifticulty  that  thevare  roused 
to  night,    and    may   then    sometimes   be   tak.-n    bv  the    h.in.l  ; 
others  flutter  into  the   water   bel.nv  the   .lius   on' whi.  h    they 
nestle,  and   seem,  in  fut,  to  try   every   expe.lient    luit    that    .)f 
flight.     They  are  at  all  times  extremely  expert  in  .living,  using 
their  pinions  as  .lars  instead  of  the  feet,  thus   living  as   it   were 
in  the  water,  as  well  as  in  the  air.    After  the  y.iung  are  hat.  he.l 
an.I  callable  of  migrating,  by  the  close  of  August,  they  all  dis- 


l 


400 


DIVKkS. 


tl'5 


1" 


k 


appear  from  the  hlion-s  of  lliit.iiii,  and  are  seen  in  winter  on 
tilt' CO  ist^  of  the  liaUie,  Holland,  l'"ran(  e,  aloii^'  the  borders 
of  the  Atlantic,  and  as  f.;r  southward  as  Italy.  Many  of  the 
\oung,  as  well  as  old  birds  of  this  species,  also,  bred  in  (older 
latitudes,  nii^Mate  in  winter  aloni,'  'he  coasts  of  Norway,  Hol- 
land, and  laiLjland,  seeininLj  as  it  were  to  fill  up  the  place  of 
those  which  have  lel't  their  native  shores  for  still  milder 
climates. 

The  inhabitants  of  Kamtschatka  kill  the  Miures  in  i^rcat 
numbers  for  the  sake  of  their  IIinIi.  thoUL,'h  it  is  saiil  to  be 
tout^h  and  ill  tastinl,^  but  more  ojh'c  ially  for  their  skins,  of 
whi(  h,  as  of  other  fowls,  they  make  garments;  but  the  t  Ljirs 
are  e\erywhere  accounted  as  a  delicacy.  This  bird  is  c  ailed 
b)'  the  \\'el.->h  Uiiillciii,  and   in  the  southern  jjarts  u{   jaiglaiul 

During  \erv  rtaeiit  vears  it  lias  bcLMi  disrovered  that  the  "("oni- 
iiion  "  ( iuillenidt  is  a  decidedly  unconinion  bird  oa  our  shores,  if 
not  (|uito  rapj  :  it  lias  been  contused  with  l>ruiinieirs.  wliii  h  it  very 
clos;lv  resembles,  'i'lic  prisiiit  sjiecies  is  credited  widi  I)ri.((linijf 
from  tlu'  Pay  ol  I'uudv  to  tlu'  Fro/cu  (Iiimh;  imt  Mr.  i!,ii;erup 
eonsidiTs  it  rare  in  south  Orecidaiid.  while  Kumliiii  reported  lind- 
inii  (luillemots  '•  breeding'  bv  thousands  '"  on  tlic  (Jrecnland  coast. 

A  few  of  these  birds  are  found  otf  the  \ew  fai,i;!and  shores  in 
winter. 


\\ 


\l 


winter  on 
If  honltTs 
;iny  of  tlu- 
1  in  coldtT 
'way,  1  !(il- 
(•  |)1.'(  (.•  (if 
:ill    MiildiT 

>  in  great 
said  to  be 
r  skins,  of 
1  the  i,Lt,US 
1  is  (.ilk'.l 
f   i:n-lai)d 

tlie  •'  Com- 
r  slioics.  if 
lii  h  it  very 

li  hicrdint;' 

I".  1  i.iL;t'ni|) 

iiti'd  tiiiil- 

11(1  coast. 

sIiokls  in 


BRUNXKII'S    MlKRi:. 
tiiick.-I!ILL[;d  (;uiLLi;.M(>r.     I'ooi.i-ii  (iL'ii.i.r-.MOT. 

I'KNCiUIN. 
I'UIA    I.OMVIA. 

CHAK.  Lppci  pai  Is  sooty  l)l;icl<,  ilctix-'iiiii  lu.uland  najic  ;  si(lt>  ui 
licail  and  neck,  ciiin,  and  ihroat  Inoun  ;  uiiiL;  with  Mnall  patch  ol  white; 
1/ill  slinit  and  tliick.and  of  hhick  color,  l.unnth  al)oiii  iS  inches;  Icnialo 
sonicvvJKit  sMKiHii'.  In  winter  the  thro;it  becoineh  wiiile.  Vonng  iiirtls 
are  similar  U)  tiie  adult  in  winter  jilniniii^e 

Xist.     On  the  bate  locio  oi  an  oce.in  clilT. 

E,i^X.  I;  very  variable  in  cidor,  niarkinj.;^,  and  si/.e  ;  average  about 
3.15  X  2.05. 

Tlii.s  is  the  Coniinon  (iuillemot  of  our  shores,  and  is  riithcr  abun- 
dant in  some  localities,  breeding  from  tlie  (Iiilf  of  .St.  bawrcncc  to 
the  Frozen  Ocean,  and  winteriiisi  from  south  (Ireeid;itid  to  New 
Jersey-  Some  Euroi)ean  natnr:dists  consider  this  bird  ;i  v;iriety 
of  [\  troile,  and  not  entitled  to  specific  rank:   bin  tiie  ".American 

VOL.  n.  —  26 


n 


lA 


1r  ^ 


"I 


402 


nivEUs. 


School"  of  ornitliologists  arc  nothing  if  not  "separatists,"  and  by 
separating  forms  u  iiicli  appear  to  them  to  have  gained  the  rigiit  to 
distinct  aiul  separate  recogniliijn,  the  A.  O.  U.  are  proving  ti)eir 
right  to  the  title  ol  ••  pioneers  of  modern  ornithological  science,"" 
given  tiiem  by  an  illustrious  lun'opean  saiuuit. 

Wiietlier  the  path  wliicli  tiiese  "pioneers'"  are  blazing  —  with 
its  uni)enchng  adliercnce  to  a  tixed  line,  over  wiiatever  diJticulty  it 
mav  lead — will  be  followed  strictly  by  future  syslematists,  is  a 
debatable  cpiestion ;  but  followed  strictly  (jr  liul  partially,  the 
present  generation  of  American  ornithologists  have  estai)lished 
themselves  among  the  leaders  of  the  science,  and  the  influence  of 
their  determinations  is  acknowledged  wherever  birds  are  studied 
or  dis(  ribed. 

1  will  not  pretend  to  he  in  full  symjjathy  with  all  of  the  separating 
that  has  been  attempted,  nor  of  .dl  that  has  bueii  accepted.  There 
will  be.  doubtless,  a  revision  of  the  present  system.  -  nay.  many 
revisions:  ornitholoirv  is  in  its  infancv  vet.  I  lollow  the  American 
school  because  an  amateur  writer  must  follow  .somebody,  —  we 
have  had  too  manv  unskilled  hands  tinkering  witli  svstematic 
work.  I  follow  the  Americans  also  because  I  am  doing  .American 
work  for  .American  readers,  and  the  use  of  the  .\.  O.  \>.  system  of 
classihcation  and  nomenclature  will  avoid  confusion.  I  follow  this 
system  for  another  reason  :  I  consider  it  the  best  that  has  as  vet 
been  issued :  and  st)  I  give  to  bninnich's  Murre  specific  inste;id 
of  varietal  rank. 

This  bird  does  not  ih'ifer  in  habits  from  its  congeners.  During 
the  winter  it  lives  on  the  open  sea.  and  in  the  breeding-season 
assend)les  in  large  Hocks  on  bold  clitfs  and  rocky  headlands,  it  is 
an  expert  diver,  using  wings  and  feet  to  get  under  water  and  to 
swim  throuiih  it. 


j!     f 


.il 


:s,"  and  by 
the  riylit  to 
)viii<j;  lliL'ir 
l1  scifucc,"' 


intr  —  with 
(litticulty  it 
atists,  is  a 
rtially.  the 
established 
nriiieiice  of 
are  studied 

■  separatinjij 
ed.     There 

nay.  many 
e  American 
body,  —  we 

systematic 
H'  American 
'.  system  of 
.  lollow  tliis 

lias  as  yet 

itic  inste;ul 

Durinji; 
inti-season 
ands.     it  is 
.er  and  to 


DOVI'KTF. 

SFA  noxi:.    1.1 1  11. r:  .wk. 
Ai.i.i:  Ai.M.. 

Cir.VR.  Head,  nerk,  and  upper  |iarts  l)lacl< ;  wings  with  small  patch  of 
white,  snnietinies  dividul  hv  a  black  !)ar  ;  umler  parts  wiiite  ;  hill  hlai  k  ; 
legs  red.     i.engtl:  about  S'l  iiiclus. 

In  wintcf  tJie  chin  ;iiul  thniat  aru  wliilc,  and  in  piing  and  fall  the 
uliite  is  ni   re  or  less  varied  wilii  black. 

A'c.v/.  On  a  ledge  I'f  an  ncc.in  ciil't',  iir  any  Id-h  elevation  adjacent  t<> 
the  sea.  There  is  no  receptacle  dw  the  egg,  which  is  laid  un  tin.-  ban.-  mck 
or  amid  loose  stones. 

/•.';'••!,'■•  I;  P'lle  groeni^h  bine,  sometimes  stre.iked  with  btitt';  average 
size  1.85  X   1 .30. 

This  neat  r.ivl  siimnlir  little  bini,  with  a  (piaint  rcscniblaiice 
to  the  Cohinibino  tril)c,  is  known  to  mariners  by  the  name  ot 
the  Greenland  I)()\(';  and  in  this  vi(  initv  it  is  a'so  called  the 
Pigeon  D'ver.  It  inhabits,  however,  a  rc.uion  wIhtc  the  ,t;entle 
eooing  of  the  I'ove  is  never  heard.  It  dwells  fir  within  the 
Arctic  Circle,  r.pproaehinij;  the  very  I'ole,  having;  been  obt  ,inid 


r 


404 


DIVERS. 


t: 


i!i'!'ii 


by  Dr.  Richardson  from  the  tlrcary  coast  of  Melville  Island,  in 
the  latitude  of  75°  and  76°,  in  August,  where  these  birds  were 
seen  by  thousands.  'I'his  is  probably  almost  the  last  bird  ob- 
served within  the  desolate  and  glacial  boundaries  of  the  earth. 
In  Greenland  and  Spitzbergen  Dovekies  congregate  in  great 
Hocks,  and  in  the  depth  of  winter,  watching  tlie  motion  ol  the 
ice  in  the  offing  when  it  is  broken  up  by  storms,  they  crowtl  by 
thousands  into  every  opening  fissure  or  Haw,  in  order  to  snatch 
up  the  marine  productions  on  which  they  subsist.  Mr.  Audu- 
bon found  a  few  individuals  breeding  on  the  coast  of  Labrador. 
In  Newfoundland  this  species  is  called  the  Ice  iJird,  being  the 
sure  harbinger  of  severe  weather,  as  it  seldom  proceeds  far  from 
its  inclement  natal  regions,  except  when  accidentally  driven  to 
shore  by  storms.  In  the  United  States  its  appeararce  is  always 
solitary,  being  a  mere  wanderer,  as  it  is  also  alon.^  the  milder 
coasts  of  lMiro])e.  The  uniform  predilection  of  these  birds- 
is  for  the  hyperboreal  regions  of  their  nativity,  and  they  even 
fatten  in  storms  whon  not  overwhelmed  by  their  fury,  as  at 
these  times  the  small  Crustacea  and  marine  insects  on  which 
they  feed  are  cast  up  and  brought  to  the  surface  in  greater 
abundance.  At  times  they  ap])ear  to  lly  well,  as  a])pears  bv 
tlieir  extensive  accidental  migrations,  they  having  soiiietimes 
been  met  with  considerably  inland.  'I'he  water,  however,  is 
their  more  natural  element ;  they  dive  with  great  facility,  and 
are  often  observed  dipping  their  bills  into  the  water,  as  if 
drinking. 

'I'hose  individuals  which  have  been  obtained  in  this  vicinity, 
usu  illy  in  the  depth  of  winter,  have  sometimes  been  found  in 
l"'resh  I'ond,  so  lean  and  exhausted,  by  bufft.'ting  weather  and 
fitigue,  as  to  allow  themselves  to  be  quietly  taken  up  by  the 
hind. 

Like  other  species  of  the  genus,  and  the  fimily.  generally, 
associated  with  the  Razor-bills,  they  seek  out  for  their  breed- 
ing-places the  most  inaccessible  impending  cliffs  which  ])roject 
into  the  ocean,  and  in  their  clefts,  without  any  artificial  nest, 
deposit  their  single  egg,  which  is  of  a  jiale  bluish-green,  com- 
monly withotit  spots,  but  sometimes  scattered  with  a  few  small 


DOVEKIE. 


le  Island,  in 

birds  were 
1st  bird  ob- 
f  the  earth. 
itf  in  great 
'tiun  ol  the 
•y  crowd  by 
T  to  snatch 

Mr.  Aiuhi- 
f  Labrador. 
.  being  the 
ds  far  from 
y  driven  to 
:e  is  always 
the  milder 
hcse   birds- 

they  even 
'"iiry,  as  at 

on  which 
in  greater 
ippcars  by 
sometimes 
owever,  is 
cility.  and 
Iter,  as  if 

s  vicinity, 

found  in 

ather  and 

up  by  the 


405 


touches  of  blackish.  At  this  time,  probably,  they  are  heard  to 
utter  their  uncouth  and  monotonous  call  of  /v/A/,  by  which  as 
a  name  they  are  known  to  the  Dutch  navigators  who  have 
penetrated  to  their  dreary  and   remote   haunts. 

Captain  Ross's  party  met  with  these  birtls  in  great  numbers 
on  the  west  coast  of  Greenland,  where  they  were  shot  daily, 
and  sui)plied  to  the  ship's  company,  who  foimd  them  very 
palatable,  and  free  from  any  fishy  taste,  though  their  food  con- 
sists chiefly  of  a  small  species  of  crab  {Camrr),  with  which 
the  Arctic  seas  abound. 

Tills  interesting  little  wanderer,  that  comes  to  our  shores  only 
during  the  winter  months,  and  gains  our  sympathy  by  its  graceful 
form  and  apparent  helplessness,  is  a  much  more  sturdv  and  self- 
reliant  bird  than  it  gives  any  evidence  of  as  we  i)ick'it  up  ex- 
hausted from  battling  with  the  strong  nortli  wind  that  lias  thrown 
It  ui  our  way,  faint  from  hunger  and  wearied  from  the  ijrotractcd 
struggle.  Its  wings  are  small,  hut  they  are  moved  almost  as 
rapidly  as  a  Humming  Bird's,  and  propel  the  bird  througli  tlie  air 
with  great  rapidity,  This  bird  is  an  expert  diver  too.  and  though 
awkward  on  the  lanii,  swims  witli  easv  grace  :  and  wlien  weariJil, 
It  tuck.s  its  head  beneath  its  little  win-  and  rocked  in  tiie  cradle  of 
the  deep,  sleeps  as  calmly  and  serenelv  as  do  iniman  eliildren  upon 
their  mother's  breast.  When  hungry,  tliese  little  children  of  the 
sea  draw  their  food  from  the  ocean's  bosom. 

The  Little  Auk  ne.sts  only  north  of  the  Arctic  Circle,  and  there 
a.s.sembles  in  vast  communities,  and  fills  the  air  with  its  wild  note, 
which  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  syllables  ,f/-/e. 

These  birds  are  seen  on  our  shores  onlv  in  winter,  and  tiien 
straggle  as  far  .south  as  New  Jersey.  Oeca.sionally  an  example  is 
blown  inland  by  a  gale,  one  having  been  found  as  far  awav  fiom 
the  sea  as  the  Detroit  River. 


generally, 
Hr  breed- 
•h  project 
cial  nest, 
en,  corn- 
few  small 


|.!» 


m. 


i  f 


ITFI-IN. 

SKA    I'ARKOT. 
FkA  Tl  ,RCr  I  .A    A  Kc:i  RA . 

("mar.  Upper  parts  black  or  dusky,  a  band  of  same  across  I'lc  neck  ; 
clucks  and  undir  parts  white.      I.cn.^tli  abmit  12  inches. 

.Yrst.      In  a  crevice  ol  aclili  or  in  a  l)urro\v. 

/V.,;^,^  i;  diiii  wliitc,  marked  witli  pale  brown  and  lilac;  avera,L;e  sixe 
::.40  X  1.70. 

The  Puffin  is  a  general  inh;;l)itan  of  ihe  cold  and  inclement 
regions  of  the  whole  northern  hcniisi)here.  On  the  coasts  of 
northern  Murope  it  is  met  with  to  the  Icy  Sea.  It  is  f.)iin  1 
in  Iceland,  (Greenland,  Spit/bergen,  and  the  l'"aroe  Isles; 
on  the  <-oast  of  Kanitschalka  and  the  Kuriles  it  is  also 
common.  In  the  temperate  climates  of  (ireat  IJritain,  as  well 
as  in  the  Shetland  and  ( )rkney  Isles,  it  likewise  breeds  in 
large   communities,  as  at    the    l''arne    Isles,  off  the  coast  of 


I'LI'MN. 


407 


:-^^^ 


»^4 


T^is 


iss  tiie  neck  ; 

avcra.nc  size 

I  inclement 
e  consts  of 
It  is  f,)un  1 
roe    Isles  ; 

it    is    also 
lin,  as  well 

breeds  in 
e  coast   of 


Northumberland,  I'riestholm  Isle,  near  Anglesea.  the  small 
islands  off  St.  David's  in  Wales,  the  Isle  of  Uii,dit,  the  cliffs  of 
Heachy  Head,  Dover,  Scarborou.t^h,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Holy- 
head. These  birds  were  also  found  by  Audubon  on  the  sterile 
and  dreary  coast  of  Labrador,  but  not  beyond  Hrador ;  tluy 
also  probably  inhabit  the  coasts  of  X-wfoimdland,  and  in  the 
winter  are  seen  in  <,M-eat  numbers  in  the  l!ay  of  l'"undy.  They 
are  little  more  than  stragglers  on  the  coast  of  New  l-jigland,  but 
according  to  Catesby  proceed  in  tlie  course  of  the  season  as 
far  south  as  Carolina.  In  I'airope  they  are  also  seen  on  the 
coasts  of  Andalusia  in  Spain. 

In  I'lngland,  at  I'riestholm  Isle,  they  are  seen  in  Hocks  innu- 
meral)Ie.     They  assemble  and  begin  to  visit  the  island  early  in 
April,  but   do   not  (X)mnience   tlieir   incubation   until   the   first 
week  in  May.     They  make   no  proper  nest,  but   burrow  deep 
holes  in  the  loose  earth,  in  the  labor  of  which   both  male  and 
female  unite,  forming  excavations  three  (^r  four  feet  in  depth. 
As  this  labor  is  very  considerable,  they  sometimes  content  them- 
selves with  the  deserted  burrow  of  the  rabbit,  ami  probably  at 
times  dislodge  the  owners  f(jr  this  coveted  convenience.    They 
lay  a  single  whitish-colored   egg  on  the  bare  mould   of  their 
den.    The  young  are  hatched  by  the  beginning  of  July,  and  are 
attentively   fed   by   the   assiduous   i)arents.  who  are    now   si'en 
busily  engaged  fishing  for  them,  and  bringing  their  prey  in  the 
bill,  until  they  are  so  far  grown  as  to  \'cvi\  and  defend  them- 
selves.    About  the  close  of  August  they  all  go  off  in  a  body,  to 
a  single  bird;   and  indeed   so  ...mpletely  that  they  desert   the 
young  ones  which  are  hatched  late,  leaving  them  a  prey  to  the 
Falcon   and   other    rapacious   birds    who    watch    for    them    at 
the  mouths  of  their  holes.     Vet  notwithstamling  this  apparent 
neglect  of  their  young  at  this  tiiue,   when  everv  other  instinct 
IS  merged  in  the  desire  and   necessity  of  migration,  probably 
after  food,  no  bird  is  luore  attentive  to  them  in  general,  since 
they  will  suffer  themselves  to  be   taken   by  the   hand,  aiid  use 
every  endeavor  to  save  and  screen  their  young,  biting  not  only 
their  antagonist,  but,  when  laid  hold  of  by  the  wings,  infiicting 
bites  on  themselves,  as  if  actuated  by  the  agonies  of  despair: 


408 


niVKKS. 


n 


and  when  released,  instead  of  llyinj;  away,  they  hurry  again 
into  the  burrow  to  their  cherished  yotnij;. 

'I"he  Puffin,  essentially  acjuatie  in  its  nature  and  liabits. 
makes  no  great  progress  in  the  air,  taking  wing  with  difficulty  ; 
and  it  walks  an  the  whole  length  of  the  leg  and  foot  with  a 
wriggling,  awkward  gait.  In  tempestuous  weather  these  birds 
seek  shelter  in  caverns,  the  holes  of  the  nearest  rocks,  in  their 
burrows,  or  in  the  rabbit-holes  on  the  beach,  in  which  they 
doze  till  the  return  of  calmer  weather.  'I'hough  accustomed  to 
the  severest  cold,  they  are  tmable  to  brave  the  storm,  and  when 
overtaken  by  it  are  often  drowned  and  cast  dead  on  the  shore. 
Their  food  consists  of  various  kinds  of  small  lish,  particularly 
sprats,  the  smaller  kin<ls  of  crabs,  shrimps,  and  sea-weeils  ;  and 
it  is  not  imi)robable  but  that  their  sudden  migrations  are  regu- 
lated by  the  presence  or  absence  of  certain  kinds  of  fish  on 
which  they  delight  to  feed.  'I'hey  are  exceedingly  rank  in 
flavor  ;  yet  the  young,  preservetl  with  spices  and  pickled,  are 
by  some  ])eoi)le  much  admired.  They  are  even  potted  at  St. 
Kilda  and  elsewhere,  and  sent  to  London  as  rarities. 

'I'hough  pertinacious  in  attachment  to  their  favorite  breed- 
ing-i)laces,  they  have  sometimes  been  known  to  desert  them  in 
a  very  unaccountable  manner.  At  the  great  Isle  of  Arran, 
(lalway  Bay,  in  Ireland,  the  stupendous  cliffs  to  the  southwest 
of  the  island,  which  from  time  innnemorial  had  been  the  place 
of  rest)rt,  or  rather  the  natural  habitation,  of  such  numbers  of 
Puffir.s  as  is  almost  incredible,  was  at  once  deserted  on  the 
24th  of  June  by  the  entire  sjx'cies,  who  thus  abandoned  their 
eggs  and  young  and  went  off  to  sea.  The  like  incident  is  sai<l 
to  have  happened  forty  years  ])revious.  and  no  reason  could  be 
assigned  for  this  extraordinary  dereliction. 

Among  the  enemies  of  the  C-oulternebs  is  sometimes  the 
piratical  Raven,  who  makes  bold  to  offer  battle  ;  but  as  soon 
as  he  aj)proaches  the  defender  of  Mie  jjremises  catches  him 
under  the  throat  with  her  beak,  and  sticks  her  claws  into  his 
breast  till  he  screams  out  with  pain  antl  tries  to  get  away.  But 
the  C'oulterneb  retains  her  hold,  and  tumbles  him  about,  till 
both    frequently    fall    into    the    sea,    where     the   aggressor    is 


M 


PUFFIN. 


409 


lurry  again 

md    liahits. 

difficulty  ; 
foot  with  a 
hesc  birds 
\is,  in  tht'ir 
vhich  they 
istonicd  to 

and  when 
the  shore, 
•articularly 
eeds  ;  and 
:  are  regu- 
of  fish  on 
/  rank  in 
ckled,  are 
tted  at  St. 


ilrowned,  and  the  Puffin  returns  in  tritunph  to  her  nest.  Hut 
should  the  Raven  at  the  first  onset  get  hold  of  the  Coulter- 
neb's  neck,  he  generally  comes  off  victorious,  killing  the  mother 
and  feasting  on  her  eggs  or  young.  'I'he  fishermen  sometimes 
draw  these  birds  out  of  their  burrows  by  introducing  the  hand 
into  the  hole,  which  is  seized  by  the  bird,  which  suffers  itself  to 
be  pulled  out  rather  than  lose  its  hold.  Its  bite  is,  however, 
very  severe,  and  it  can  when  irritated  take  out  a  piece  of  flesh 
from  a  man's  hand  without  any  extraordinary  effort.  When 
reared  and  domesticated,  these  birds  become  (luite  tame,  and 
in  the  end  familiar. 

TIic  PutTin  l)reeds  on  the  islands  at  the  nKHitli  of  tiic  Hay  of 
Fundy,  and  north  to  (Greenland,  and  in  winter  is  more  or  less  com- 
mon, from  Nova  Scolia  to  Now  Jersey. 


NoTi:.  —  The  Lakgk-iuli.kd  Puffin  (/'".  antica  i:;lacialis)  is 
said  to  breed  farther  north  than  true  antitu. 


ite  breed- 
■t  them  in 
of  .Arran, 
southwest 
the  place 
mdiers  of 
d  on  the 
ned  their 
nt  is  said 
eould  be 


imes  the 
:  as  soon 
dies  him 
into  his 
ay.  But 
bout,  till 
ressor    is 


!    ' 


'il; 


i  I 


RAZOR-HILT, ED    AUK. 

riNK!:K. 

Al.C'.V     lORDA. 

CllAR.  Upper  parts  IjhicU.  willi  green  rctlcctioiis  :  throat  deep  l)ro\vn  ; 
a  line  of  white  in  front  of  tlie  eves  ;  a  narrow  bar  of  wiiite  on  the  \vin;4s  ; 
under  parts  wliite  :  1):11  hoin-1)r(nvn  with  a  bar  of  wliite.  Length  al)oiit 
17  inclies. 

In  winter  the  liuoat  becomes  while,  the  IjiU  loses  the  Iiornv  sliiehl  at 
the  tip  and  the  white  bar,  and  appears  smaller  .nui  sharper,  and  the  line 
from  the  eyes  is  indistinct. 

.\'(M'/,  On  an  ocean  clilf.  —  iisnallv  near  the  summit ;  the  egg  is  laid  on 
the  l)are  rock,  generallv  in  a  crevice  or  amid  loose  stones. 

/:';',;'■.  I  ;  ground  color  shailed  from  ivory  white  or  pale  but'f  to  dark 
buff  or  reddish  brown;  marked  with  dark  brown  and  gray  ;  si/c  variable, 
average  about  2.90  X  i.So. 

The  Razor-bill  is  another  of  those  t^regarioiis  marine  birds 
which  dwell  amidst  the  wildest  scenes  of  Nature,  and  penetrate 


I   > 


kA/.()k-i;ii.i,i:i)  aik. 


411 


Iccp  brown  ; 
I  the  win^s  ; 
<;ngth  about 

iiy  sliield  at 
and  the  bnc 

;g  is  laic]  on 

iitY  to  (lark 
ze  variable, 


rine  birds 
penetrate 


into  tlic  most  dreary  hypcrborcal  <  liiiiates  thruiighout  the 
whole  of  the  norlhirii  hi'inisphere.  '1  hey  abound  in  the  north 
of  Kuroi)e  as  far  as  Iceland  and  (irecniand,  .ind  in  AuKTica 
swarm  on  the  bk-ak  and  barren  loasts  of  Labrador.  Sin. ,11 
groups  of  from  ten  to  [\\\\w  prix  ced  along  the  toasts  of  the 
United  States  as  tar  as  .\l\\  \uik,  m  ?>Lverf  winlirs  reinainin--- 
m  deep  water ;  but  they  are  by  no  means  eonnnon,  and  scarcely 
ever  seen  in  Massachusetts  J>ay. 

lake  most  of  the  birds  of  this  family,  they  have  a  stead\  pre- 
dilection for  their  ancient  eyry.      From  time  immemorial  they 
resort  to  the  sa.ne  rocks  and  coasts,  and  there  are  but  few  places 
sufficiently  desert,  rocky,  and  inactessible  suited  to  their  furtive 
habits  and  marine  food.     One  of  their  great  resorts  in  iaigland 
is  on  and  about  the  \eedle-rocks  and  other  precipitous  clifls,  si) 
dangerous  to  the  shipwrecked  mariner,  which  Hank  the  romantic 
Isle  of  Wight.     As  curious  and  striking  works  of  Nature  and 
instinct,  these,  and   the  birds  whii  h   frc(|uent   them,  afford   an 
interesting  spectacle   in   May  and  June.     The   Ra/or-l)ills  are 
here  in  sn.h  numl)ers  that  a  l)()atful  might  be  killed   in  a  day; 
and  the  eggs  being  esteemed  a  delicacy,  particularly  for  salads, 
the  fishermen  and  other  indigent  and  adventurous  inhabitants 
traverse  the  i)recipi(-es  in  search  of  the  pickle  sami)hire  and 
the  eggs  of  the   Murre.     Some  of  these  stupendous  cliffs  are 
six   hundred   feet   above  the  yawnmg  deep,  which   lashes   .umI 
frets  them  into  gloomy  caverns.     Seaward  thev  itre^ent  rumrcd 
and  deep.ly  indented  cliffs,  on  whose  rude  shelviugs  and  ledges 
the  birds  arrange  themselves  by  thousands,  and  without  further 
l)reparation  lay  their  eggs,  which  lie  as  it  were  strewed  without 
precaution  by  hundreds  in  a  row,  in  no  way  attnched  to  or  de- 
fended by  the  rocks,  so  that   in  a  gale  of  wind  whole  ranks  of 
them  are  swept  into  the  sea.      'i'o  these  otherwise  iiKUcessible 
deposits  the  dauntless  fowlers  ascend,  and   pas.^ng   intn^pidly 
from  rock  to  rock,  collect  the  eggs  and  descend  with  the  same 
indifference.      In   most   i)laces,   however,  the  attempt   is  made 
from  above.     The  adventurer  is  let  down  from  the  slope  con- 
tiguous to  the  brink  of  the  cliff  bv  a  rope  sustained  by  a  sinule 
assistant,  who,  lowering  his  companion,  depends  on  his  per- 


41 -' 


IJIVKKS. 


•!■   !' 


itliNi' 


I  .til 


sonal  strength  alone  tt)  siipi).)!!  linn  ;  which  if  failing,  the  fowler 
is  (lashed  to  pieces  or  drowned  in  the  sea  which  roars  and 
iieaves  below. 

In  oriler  to  stuily  the  habits  (jf  these  marine  birds,  the  cele- 
brated Ivlwards  spent  several  days  among  these  terrific  and 
romantic  rocks.  If  a  cannon  was  fncd,  the  air  was  darkened 
with  a  black  cloiul  of  the  cliff  birds,  which  issned  by  thousands 
from  every  hole  and  cranny,  as  if  smnmoned  into  sudden  exist- 
ence by  the  work  of  en(  haiument.  1  "hey  fly  about  in  silence 
near  to  the  surface  of  the  sea,  perform  a  few  circuits,  and  on 
the  removal  of  the  cause  of  alarm  return  soon  to  their  eyry,  or, 
alighting  on  the  waves,  dive  out  of  the  way  of  harm  until  well 
assured  that  no  enemy  is  near. 

These  .Auks  lay  but  one  egg  excej)t  when  robbetl  of  the  first, 
and  if  this  is  taken  they  will  sometimes  give  a  third.  Mr, 
Audubon  found  them  breeding  in  great  numbers  on  the  coast 
of  Labrador,  generally  taking  possession  of  the  most  rugged 
and  precipitous  isles,  in  the  dee])  indentations  and  fissures  of 
which  they  crowded,  and  deposited  their  eggs  as  near  together 
as  distinct  proprietorship  would  admit,  —  commonly  upon  a 
nest  of  pebbles,  artificially  collected  together,  under  and  between 
which  the  drii)ping  waters  and  melting  ice  thus  jjassed  without 
ever  coming  in  contact  with  the  eggs.  'J'he  Murre  sits  on  her 
nest  in  an  upright  posture,  and  with  her  head  facing  the  wind. 
The  young  are  fed  by  regurgitated  food  until  they  attain  a  con- 
siderable size,  after  which  the  small  fish,  on  which  old  and 
young  princijxilly  feed,  are  merely  laid  before  them.  'I'hey 
leave  their  rock  or  nest  when  about  half  grown,  and  then 
immediately  commence  fishing  for  themselves.  Thousands  of 
these  birds  are  here  seen  breeding  on  the  same  rock. 

The  flight  of  the  Razor-bill  is  rapid,  and  according  to  Mr. 
Audubon  sometimes  even  greatly  |)rotracted,  but  low  above 
the  surface  of  the  water,  and  sustained  by  a  constant  stiff  and 
short  flapping  of  the  wings.  It  dives  to  great  depths  and 
swims  under  the  surface  with  considerable  velocity,  using  its 
wings  as  flattened  fins,  and  in  this  manner,  like  the  Divers, 
it  may  be  seen  pursuing  and  seizing  its  prey. 


K/VZUK-lULI.i;i)   Al  K. 


413 


[,  the  fowler 
1  roars  and 

^,  the  cele- 
tcrrific  and 
•>  darkened 
thousands 
Iden  exist- 
in  silence 
ts,  and  on 
ir  eyr\',  (jr, 
until  well 

f  the  first, 
lird.     Mr. 
the  coast 
St  merged 
fissures  of 
■  together 
r  upon  a 
1  between 
1  without 
ts  on  her 
he  wind, 
in  a  con- 
old  and 
.     'Jhey 
nd   then 
sands  of 

:  to  Mr. 
V  above 
stiff  and 
hs  and 
isinn^  its 
Divers, 


Ik'sides  breeding  in  Labrador.  Mr.  Audubon  found  that  the 
Ra/or-bill  occasionally  nesteil  in  tiie  Island  of  (Irand  Menan, 
the  Seal  Islands,  and  others  siluateil  at  the  entrance  of  the 
]»ay  of  l'"un(ly. 

'I'hough  it  walks  and  runs  awkwanlly,  this  bird  moves  lAvifily, 
and  can  easily  escape  from  place  to  place.  The  bite  of  the 
old  bird,  like  that  of  the  Tuffiii,  i.-,  very  severe,  ihe  fishermen 
of  this  region  call  this  species  the  Hawk-billed  Murre.  ll> 
flesh  is  ([uite  palatable,  although  very  dark,  and  nuich  eaten 
by  the  (Ireenlandcrs,  according  to  ("rant/,  forming  their  chief 
sul)si.-,tence  during  the  months  of  l-'cbruary  and  March,  'Ihrse 
birds  are  killed  with  missiles,  chased  and  driven  ashore  in 
canoes,  or  taken  in  nets  made  of  s|)Iit  whalebone.  'I'heir  skins 
are  also  used  for  clothing.  'J'he  eggs  are  everywhere  accounted 
a  delicacy,  and  the  fe.ithers  of  the  breast  are  extremely  fine, 
warm,  and  elastic.  for  the  sake  of  this  handful  of  feathers, 
acct)rding  to  Audubon,  thousands  of  these  birds  are  killed  in 
Labrador,  and   their  bodies  strewed  on   the   shore. 

'Ihe  islands  between  the  small  port  of  Little  Macatine  and 
I'.rador  abound  with  these  and  other  allied  marine  l)ir(ls,  whose 
eggs  are  collected  by  the  inhabitants  of  Nova  Scotia.  Lor  this 
purpose  they  commence  by  trampling  on  all  tliey  find  laid,  and 
the  following  day  begin  to  collect  those  which  are  newlv  dr()i)pe(l  ; 
and  such  is  the  abundance  of  the  eggs  that  Mr.  Audubon  fell  in 
with  a  party  of  three  men  who,  in  the  course  of  six  weeks,  had 
collected  thirty  thousand  dozen,  of  the  estimated  value  of  four 
hundred  ])oun(ls  sterling.  Leyond  lirador  the  Murres  and 
Puffins  were  no  longer  found. 

The  Kazor-bill  breeds  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  tlie  Bay  of 
Fundy  to  the  northern  part  of  Labrador,  tiiou-Ii  very  few  exam- 
ples are  found  in  summer  south  of  tlic  (",ulf  (.f  St.  Lawrence.  In 
winter  these  birds  wander  along  the  coast  of  New  England  and  the 
adjacent  Provinces. 


rr 


If 


'?•-» 


r^-'^sr^^^ss^K;^ 


(;Ri:\r  auk. 

GKF.AT    I'F.NCil'IN.      (iAKK    FOWI.. 
Pl.ArirS    IMI'I.NNIS. 

('n\R.  Upper  jiarts  black,  a  wliite  patih  in  finnt  of  fl)c  eyes;  under 
pails  wliitc  ;  sides  of  tlie  tliroat  (iari<  huff;  \\iiii;>  litlic  more  tiian  rudi- 
mentary.    Length  about  p  inclies. 

.W.f/.  Anionp  the  siiinL;le  on  a  sfa-w.i-ilu'd  Iieach,  sometinics  at  a  con- 
siderable distance  from  tlu'  water.     Tlu-  birds  jirobabh  make  no  nest. 

yti,';;'.!-.  Probably  I  ;  ereamv  while  or  buff,  someliines  tinged  with  green, 
marked  wilh  dark  l)rown  ami  gray  :  average  size  4. So  X  -.00 

'The  (Ircnt  .Auk.  or  Norlheni  Pt'iimiin,  inli:il)its  the  highest 
latitudes  of  the  globe,  (IwellinL,'  by  choiee  and  instinct  amidst 


ji 


(iUKAl    AlK. 


415 


the  horrors  of  a  region  covered  with  eternal  ice.  Here  it 
is  (oninioiily  found  tipon  the  lloating  masses  of  the  j^eiid 
ocean,  far  from  land,  to  which  alone  it  resorts  in  the  season 
of  procreation. 

Deprived  of  the  use  of  wui-.,  .h-ra.lcd  a.  it  vvvre  Irom  tiie 
feathered  ranks,  and  almost  nunil.cred  will,  the  amphibious 
monsters  of  the  .Icep,  the  .\nk  Mvms  cndriiui.d  to  dwell 
alone  in  those  dcsojale  and  forsaken  regions  of  the  larth  ; 
yet  aided  by  albboiintifiil  Nature,  it  fmds  iiuvms  to  subsist, 
and  triumphs  over  all  tlir  physi(  il  ills  of  it.  .oudition.  As 
a  di\er  it  remains  unrivalKd,  i.rocrcdin-  b.neath  the  wah  r, 
its  most  natural  element,  almost  with  the  vi  lo,  iiy  of  many 
I'irds  in  the  air.  Ii  thus  conirives  to  \ary  its  situation  with 
the  season.  mi,:,M-atin,i,'  for  short  dist  nics.  like  the  finny  pu'y 
on  whi(  h  it  feeds.  In  the  I'ar.ie  Isles,  b  rlind,  ( ireenlanil,  and 
Newfoimdiand  these  birds  dwell  and  bivrd  in  great  munbers. 
They  nest  anion-  the  str.prsl  clirfs  of  islands,  remote  from  the 
shore,  in  the  vicinity  of  il,,  iiiuLr  j,  ,.,  takin,!,^  posst'ssion  of  cav- 
erns, ami  tlu'  cnumies  and  d  li>  of  i„,  ks  ;  or  tlu'v  di-  for  them- 
.selves  deep  burrows  in  whit  .1  Ihry  la\  iluar  onlv  i,u,i,s  about  the 
size  of  that  of  the  Swan,  whitish  yellow,  m.irked  with  numerous 
lines  and  spots  of  black,  which  present  to  the  imagination  the 
idea  of  Chinese  characters.  They  are  so  un|)rolin(  that  if  this 
egg  be  taken  away  they  lay  no  other  that  season.  Their  time 
of  breeding  is  June  and  julv. 

The  Auk  is  known  sometimes  to  bned  in  tln'  Isir  of  .St. 
Kilda,  and  in  Papa  Westra,  according  to  Mr.  l!ullo<  k,  for  sev- 
eral years  past  no  more  than  a  single  pair  had  made  their 
appearance.  It  teeds  011  large  fish,  and  also  on  some  ma- 
rine plants,  as  wi'll  as  on  those  which  grow  on  tlu'  rocks  con- 
tiguous to  their  holes  or  burrows.  Tlu'  young  birds  ti'ar  tiji 
the  roots  of  the  /\h,>i/i,>/a  rcscij.  Manv  are  said  to  bri'i-d  on 
the  desert  coasts  of  Xewfoundland.  where  thev  have  been  seen 
l)y  navigators,  though  not  recently.  According  to  Pennant,  the 
Msciuimaux,  who  fie(|ueine(l  this  island,  made  clothing  of  the 
skins  of  these  birds.  The  older  ones  are  very  shy,  and  but 
rarely  venture  to  the  shore,  on  which  they  walk  badly,  though 


P" 


I  tiiju  I 


?*j     ' 


416 


DIVKKS. 


i' 


i 


i  ■  !' 


the  young  are  not  unfretiuently  met  with.  When  fed  in  con- 
finement, the  Auk  expresses  its  anxiety  by  raising  and  shalcing 
the  head  and  neck  and  uttering  a  gurghng  noise,  but  a])pears 
to  be  on  the  whole  essentially  dumb,  as  ".ell  as  deprived  of 
llight. 

Since  Nuttall  wrote,  the  (Ircat  I'dij^uin  of  the  North  Atlantic 
has  become  extinct.  There  is  no  mystery  surrounding  the  extinc- 
tion of  these  i)ir(ls  ;  they  simjily  yielded  to  the  inevitable  law  of  the 
survival  of  tlie  fittest.  Through  disuse  the  wings  became  unlit  for 
service,  and  tlie  parents  could  not  reach  a  place  of  safety  for  their 
eg.y;s ;  and  tlu)uj;h  expert  divers,  and  strong,  swift  swimmers,  theii 
legs  were  almost  usjless  when  upon  land,  and  the  birds  were  con- 
tinually surprised  by  hunters  and  captured  in  large  numbers,  until 
the  last  one  perished. 

Not  many  years  ago  tliey  were  abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  New- 
foundland, and  they  no  doubt  occurred  as  far  south  as  tlie  shores 
of  .Maine.  Now  a  few  stuffed  specimens  is  all  that  can  be  found 
of  former  legions. 


\U 


fed  in  con- 
and  shaking 
but  ajipears 
deprived  of 


orth  Atlantic 
ig  the  cxtiiic- 
)le  law  of  tiic 
line  unlit  lor 
fc-ty  for  their 
miners,  tlieii 
ds  were  con 
inibers,  until 

iiity  of  Xew- 
'  the  shores 
an  be  found 


INDEX. 


Acaitt/iis  brewsteri't,  i.  359. 
horiicmanitii,  i.  359. 
hjyucinnaitu  cxilipcs,  i.  y^%, 
linaria,  i.  355. 
linaria  Iwlha-llii,  i.  -57. 
linaria  rostra/u,  i.  y^y. 
Accipitcr  atricafdlus,  i.^i. 
coopcri,  i,  34. 
vclox,  i.  35. 
Actitis  macularia,  ii.  160. 
yEguilitis  /liaticii/a,  ii.  66. 
iJit/jiia,  ii.  59. 
m:l>Ja  lirauncincta^  ii.  60. 
mjiitaiia,  ii.  G-. 
scmifalmat.j.  ii.  (',4. 
vo.ifera,  ii.  62. 
wilsonia,  ii.  61. 
^strc\',ifa ^<^iiuj>-is,  ii.  268. 

/lasi/a/a,  ii.  26S. 
Agclaius  phixnicciis,  i.  06. 

phcvniccus  brya)tti/\.  roi. 
///.t  spoil sa,  ii.  317. 
^■//■({/'r7  (?/'<yV7,  ii.  loS. 
Ataiida  arrciisis,  i.  29-. 
Albatross,  Wandering,  ii.  278. 

Ycllow-nosccl,  ii.  277. 
..'//ftz  /fj;-./,?,  ii.  4,0. 
^///t'  (f/Zi-,  ii.  40^. 

Aminoil ramus  cainlaciitits,  i.  -.,4. 
caudaLiitiis  ndsoiii^  i,  •- ji,. 

caiidaciitiis  siilnirs^atus.  i.  :;4-. 
/iciisLnuii,  i.  ^30. 
lecontcii,  i.  ^^i. 
maritiinus,  i.  346. 
tnari/imus  pciiinsiiLr,  i.  347. 
nigrcscens,  i.  347. 
princeps,  i.  326. 
sand-ivichciifis  savaniia.  i.  -52^, 
savannariuii passcriniis,  i.  329. 
VOL.  II.  —  27 


Ampdis  cedroru>H,\.  134. 

gar  mills,  i.  152. 
-'/«r?j-  aiii.ricaita,  ii.  311. 
boschas,  ii.  30-;. 
caroiincusis,  ii.  321. 
crccca,  ii.  525. 
cyaiiflptcra,  ii.323. 
i/isiors,  ii.  ^19. 
fiilri-^ida,  ii.  316. 
obscura,  ii.  31 -. 
pfiitiopc,  ii.  313. 
stnpcra,  il.  307. 
AnhiHga  aniiiiiga,  ii.  ^So, 
Ani,  i.  43,S. 

Alton  s  stolid  us,  ii.  232. 
Aitser  all'ifrons  gambcli,  ii.  2S4. 
Anthus pcusylvauiais,  i.  292. 

pratcnsis,  \.  21)3. 
Antrostomiis  caroliiifiisis,  i.  465. 

voiifcriis,  i.  4f)7. 
Aphclocoma  ftoridaiia,  i.  137. 
Aquila  chrysactos,  i.  15. 
Araiiiiis gigaiitcii^,  ii.  102. 

1.41. 
^'•rt'frt  caiididissima,  ii.S6. 

cincrca,  ii.  St. 

ca'rulca,  ii.  94. 

egret  la,  ii.  ^4. 

tierodias,  ii.  78. 

occideiittilis,  ii.  S2. 

''/</(?,  ii.  SS. 

tricolor  riifuollis,  ii.  96. 

rircs.ens,  ii.  97, 

uardi,  ii.  ,S2. 
Arcitaria  interpres,  ii.  71. 
-^.fw  accipitriuiis,  i.  68. 

U'ilsoniaiius,  i.  66. 
Auli,  Great,  ii.  414. 


41 8  INDEX. 


,> 

[•:, 


'.  :'':■ 


h 


Auk,  Little,  ii.  403. 

razor-billed,  ii.  410. 
Avocet,  ii.  106. 
Ay  thy  a  ajiiiis,  ii.  3^5. 

amcriaiiia,  ii.  3^0. 

collaris,  ii.  346. 

iihinlii  iicaiiticci,  ii.  343. 

va/lisiicriii,  ii.  33('). 

l5alil|utL',  ii.  311. 
liartraiiiia  loiigicauiid,  ii.  164. 
Bc;icli-ljiid,  ii.  40. 
liuetlelicatl,  ii.  6,S. 
Bittern,  ii.  <)((. 

Cory's  Least,  ii.  \o2. 

Least,  ii.  101. 
Blackbird,  lialiama  red-wiiiged,  i.  101. 

Cow,  i.  104. 

Crow,  i.  115. 

Red-winded,  i.  96. 

Riist\,  i.   119. 

Skmik.  i.  io(). 

^'eli()W-lK■adcd,  i.  102. 
niackbreast,  ii.  126. 
lilatkliead,  l!ig,  ii.  343. 

Little,  ii.   ^4:;. 

l\iiiL;-l)il!e<l,  ii.  346. 

Kini,'-iuekecl,  ii.  346. 
Hlacklieait,  ii.  126. 
Bliiebill,  ii.  343. 

Little,  ii.  345. 

Marsh,  ii.  ^46. 
niiieliird.  i.  JS3. 
Bobolink,  i.  ic(). 
Bob-white,  ii.  2^. 

Cuban,  ii.  30. 

I-'loiida,  ii.  ^o. 
IJoHsiicker,  ii.  176. 
/iiiiiiisii  tttnbrlliis.  ii.   ^o. 

inn/'iiliis  tofi;(ifa,  ii.  54. 
Booby,  ii.  3711. 

Blue-faced,  ii.  ^So. 

Ked-tootcd,  ii.  3<So. 
liolnitriis  i-\ilis,  ii.  loi. 

/t/i//i;/>i<>si/s,  ii.  ()(). 

luoxcna.  ii.  102. 
Brant,  ii.  203. 

lilack,  ii.  2()2,  2<)3. 

White,  ii.  2S1. 
I^ratitd  I'cnticla^  ii.  203. 

<ti>ini/cnsi.'i,  ii.  285. 

taitadtiisis  lititchinsii.  ii.  290. 


Biiinta  caiiailcnsis  iniuima,  ii.  292. 

lcino/si.s,  ii.  292, 

Hii^nains,  ii.  292. 
Brant  bird,  ii.  71. 
Broadbill,  ii.  300. 
Brownback,  ii.  169. 
Btilio  zhi;i/Uii/ii/s,  i.  61. 

Tiri^iiiniiiKs  sutiDatus,  i.  64. 

ih-<;iiti(tiitis  snlninticKS,  i.  (14. 
Bufflebead,  ii.  347. 
J5ull-bat,  i.  470. 
Bullhead,  ii.  68. 
/iiihcdria  hiihvjri,  ii.  26S. 
Buntini;,  B.iy-wini;ed,  i.  320. 

(ilaek-tlno.itcd,  i.  29S. 

llensiow's,  i.  330. 

Indi;;o.  i.  310. 

Lark,  i.  299. 

Le  Conte's,  i.  331. 

I'aiated,  i.  314. 

Snow,  i.  300. 

Townsend's,  i.  299. 

Varied,  i.  313. 

\'ellow-winged.  i.  329. 
Burgomaster,  ii.  24S. 
Butcher-bird,  i.  159. 
But  CO  /Hiirii//.',  i.  4O. 

lH)rC(!/i<  /idiiaiii,  i.  4S. 

/<r<u  /lyinus.  i.  50. 

/(it/'s  <//!.•!/ s,   i.  4(J. 

lincatus,  i.  4  ^. 

//iiratiis  tilli  ni,  i.  45. 

sa'(iin<iiiii,  i.  4S. 
Butterball.  ii.  347. 
lUizzard,  King,  i.  6. 

'J'urkcv,  i.  I. 

C<i/<iii/o^/-iz't  iii'i'iiii(hor\s,  i.  299. 
Cii/arrius  liif'l'oitii  IIS,  i.  304. 

oriuitii<.  i.  ^05. 

/•'uliK.  i.  30^. 
Calnliduion  cyaitcoviyidv^,  i.  403, 
CuliJi  is  aii  iitirid.  ii.  49. 
Cawf>r/-hiliis  /'riihi/'a/is,  i.  441. 
('oiitf-toliti'inis  tol'idJoriiis.  i.  ^02, 
Can.iry.  Wild.  i.  34S. 
(.'araraiT.  .\udubon's.  i.  6. 
Cardii.al.  i.  3*1.?. 
Ciiid  iii!/i<  (iii'i/iim//^,  i.  362. 
C'trii  iiclis  <(jr:/iiclis,  \.  353. 
Co  f<t>ii(iiiis  /'iirpiirciis,  i.  372. 
C-  third,  i.  195. 


INDEX. 


419 


Catharista  atrata,  i.  4. 
Cathartcs  aura,  i.  i. 
Cedar  bird.  i.  154. 
Ceoplila  lis  /'ileal us,  i.  444. 
Ccppliui  i^yylle,  ii.  31)5. 
iiuuidtii,  ii.  39;. 
iiwtzfcldi,  ii.  3()7. 
Ccrtliia  faiiiiliaiis  aiiiciicaiia,  i. 
CcrthioLi  lialuiiiuusis,  i.  3,S8. 
Ccrylc  alcyoii,  i.  401. 
Chaliiia  /cUii^ua,  i.  46:;. 
Cliaiadnus  apiuarius,  ii.  58. 
t/iiiiiiiiius,  ii.  37, 
fi/U(i/iii\ua,  ii.  ()S. 
CliaritoHLta  albcola,  ii.  ^7. 
Chat,  Vellow-breasted,  i.  172. 
Clicbec,  i.  421 . 

Clicliilon  ci-ythroi^asti) ,  i.  394. 
("//(■y/  iuiulcsccns,  ii.  SiSj. 
Iiypciborca,  ii.  2S3. 
n.vaiis,  ii.  2,Si. 
Clicrry-bird,  i.  J54. 
Chewiniv,  i.  ^59. 
Ciiickadeo,  i.  146. 
Caroliiin,  i.  i;o. 
Iliidsonian,  i.  151. 
Ciiippy,  i.  3:53. 

Choiulcsl's  i^raiini/acus,  i.  ^17. 
C/ior(/c-ilc.<:  T/n^nniaiius,  i.  470. 

r/iyii/ia/i.  's  (iiapiiiaiii,  \.  47-5, 
ClHicl<-\vill'.-,-\vid(i\v,  i.  465. 
Citrus  /iiiifsfiniiis.  \.  z,\. 
Cistothorns  luarianu .  i.  2.S0. 
pa  lust  lis.  i.  279. 
slvHaris,  i.  277. 
Clattj^u/d  hyoiinlis.  ii.  5^5. 
C.livicola  ripaiia,  \.  401. 
Cobb,  ii,  252. 

Coccot/irausfcs  rcs/.-rtina.  i.  367. 
Coccyzw^  aniciiiaiius^  i.  4^2. 
ciylhrophtlialinus,  i.  436. 
minor,  i.  437. 
Vliiior  iiiayiKD.fi,  i.  4 ',8. 
Cockawcc,  ii.  5^3. 
Colaplc:  aural  us,  i.  4',,S. 
Coliuus  virj^iiiiauus,  ii.  2^ 

viri^iniauus  culuiitciisis,  ii.  30. 
viri^inianus floridaiius,  ii.   50. 
C'llumba  Icncocrphala,  ii.  7. 
('olitmhi^^aliua  paf<:criiui,  ii.  1  ^, 
Colynihus  aurilus,  ii.  3S3. 
/n>//ia-lii,  ii.  3,S4. 


;S7. 


Cowpsothlypis  aincricana,  i.  244. 
Coiitopus  I'orcalis,  i.  410. 

XI reus,  i.  419, 
Coiiiiriis  caroliiiciisis,  i.  42^1. 
Coot,  ii.  197. 

lilack,  ii.  333, 

liiittcr-billfcl,  ii.  333. 

liunipcan,  ii.  201. 

Ilor.se-I'.cad,  ii.  :-i. 


!^ea,  ii 


.v^3>.vi4. 


Wliitc-wiiigal,  ii.  334. 
Cdrnuiraiit,  ii.  4f)i). 

iJonble-crchtcd,  ii.  372. 
M(^rida,  ii.  373. 
Mcxitan,  ii.  373. 
Corrus  ainrriiaiius,  i.  126. 

auu-riiainisjloriifaiius,  i.  131. 
catiriiiiis.  i.  1 52. 
lorax  principalis,  i.  120. 
ossi/raj^us.  i.  i;,i. 
Cotiiriiix  olin  iiix,  ii.  30. 
Coiirlan,  li.  102. 
Cowbird,   i.    101. 
Crakr.  ii.  kij. 

Carolina,  ii.  i.Sij. 
C<jrn,  ii.  Kyd. 
Spotted,  ii.  196. 
Crane.  Hine,  ii.  7S. 
IIr<jun,  ii.  y;. 
Croat  Wliile.  ii.  73. 
Little  lirown.  ii.  76. 
Sandhill,   ii.  77. 
\\'li()o))ini;,  ii.  7  ^. 
Crec'iKM.  liaii.iiiia  Hnncy.  i.  ^SS. 
lil.ick  and  W'liitr,  i.  :;,S(i. 
I'lowii,  i.   ^S7. 
(;V(;.v  irc.\,  ii.  Kjd. 
Crossbill,  American,  i.  378. 
Coninion,  i.  ^78. 
Ked,  i.  378. 
While  uinc;eil, 
Crow.  i.  I  :"•. 

Cariir-n.  i.  4. 
I'ish,  i.   I  ;i. 
I'^l'irida,  1.   \\\. 
Knin.  i.  4  -2.  436. 
Crow  Diiik,  ii.  107. 
Cryiii'p/iiius  fiiliiarius.  ii.  20^, 
Cnckoo,  lU.ick-billcd.  i.  43^,. 
Man^rn\r,  i.    ,  -7, 
Mavnard'.s,  i.  4^8. 
\'elIo\v-bliled.    i.  432, 


3S1. 


B^ 


h  ■ 


\ 
V 


420 

Curlew,  Ivskimo,  ii.  122. 

lludsonian,  ii.  120. 

Jack,  ii.  120. 

I,on.L;-billed,  ii.  i  iS. 

Shdit-billfd,  ii.  122. 
Cyaiioat/a  iii.\fiif<r,  i.  133. 

irhfatd  /!oii)ico!a,  i.  r36. 
Cyi/i(/i/>(>/Ji(i  i;ni/iii>'ia,  ii.  26S. 

IJabcliick,  ii.  3Sr). 
DiijUii  acuta,  ii.  309. 
Ii,:itdragapiis  canadensis,  ii.  41. 
Dendroica  ustha,  i.  220. 

aiidul'oni,  i.  220. 

blackbttrniu,  i.  232. 

aeriilca,  i.  24;. 

cxruUsccits,  i.  245. 

carbonata,  i.  265. 

castanra,  i.  237. 

coronala,  i.  217. 

discolor,  i.  243. 

doiniiiiiii,  i.  22S. 

dominica  albilora,  i. 


INDEX. 


229. 


kntlandi.  1.  2f) 


maculosa,  i.  224. 

Mania n a,  i.  2()5. 

faliiiayuiii,  i,  220. 

pabnanini  liyf-o.lirysea,  i.  219. 

pcnsylv.tnica,  i.  235. 

it  fiat  a,  i,  23S. 

tii;ri/ia,  i.  226. 

ioans:ndi,  i.  265. 

vif^orsii,  i.  239. 

mens,  i.  2p. 
Dickcissc!,  i.  2<)S. 
Diomcdca  cxiilans,  ii.  27.S. 
Dipper,  ii.  347. 
Diver,  Great  .Nortliern,  ii. 
Dolichonyx  oryzivoriis,  i. 
Doiiglibirtl,  ii.  122. 
Dove,  Carolina,  ii.  11. 

Ciroiiiid,  ii.  13. 

Key  West,  ii,  9. 

Mijiirniii!;,  ii.  1 1. 

Sea,  ii.  403. 

'J'lirtle,  ii.  n. 

Zen.iida,  ii.  10. 
Dovckie,  ii.  403. 
Dowitclier,  ii.  169. 

I.ong-billcd,  li.  171. 
D> yobatcs  borcalis,  1.  454, 

pubesccns,  i.  452. 


3SS. 
109. 


I )r yobatcs  tHIosiis,  i.  451. 

villosus  aiidiibonii,  i.  452. 

vi/losiis  Icucomclas,  i.  452. 
Duck,  liiack,  ii.  315. 

IJroad-bill,  ii.  ^34. 

Canvas-back,  ii.  336. 

Crow,  ii.  197. 

Dipper,  ii.  334. 

Dusky,  ii.  315. 

Florida,  ii.  316, 

Gray,  ii.  307,  309. 

Harlequin,  ii.  352, 

I-abradiir,  ii.  302. 

Lesser  ."^cau]),  ii.  345. 

I.on.ij-tailed,  ii,  355. 

Ma^ketl,  ii.  31)4. 

I'ied,  11.  302. 

Hi'ig-necked,  ii.  346. 

Ruddy,  ii.  334. 

Kufous-crcsted,  ii.  364. 

Scauj),  ii.  343. 

Sea,  ii.  324. 

Spine-tailed,  ii.  334. 

Spirit,  ii.  347,  -^'(^T^. 

Steller's,  ii.  364. 

Suiiinier.  ii.  317. 

.Surf,  ii.  -531, 

\'elvet,  ii.  334, 

Wild,  ii.  ^0-5. 

Wood,  ii.  ^17, 
Dunlin,  ii.  126,  12S. 

Eagle,  Bald,  i.  19. 

Caracara,  i,  6. 

Golden,  i.  15. 

(iray  Sea,  i.  26. 

Wasliin'^ton,  i.  19. 

White-tailed,  i.  26. 
Rctopistcs  niii;)atorius,  ii,  I, 
Egret,  ii,  S4. 

151ue,  ii.  94. 

Little  Wliitc,  ii.  86. 

Peale's,  ii.  SS, 

Hcddisli.  ii,  88. 
Eider,  ii.  324. 

Common,  ii.  324. 

(ireenland,  ii.  329. 

King,  ii.  329. 
F.lanoidcs  forjicatiis,  i,  39, 
lilanus  Icncions,  i,  38, 
Enipidonax  acadicus,  i.  425. 

flavivcntris,  i.  426. 


t,    i 


INDEX. 


421 


452- 
.452. 


Em/>idonax  minimus,  i,  421. 

piisiUus  hcii/Iii,  i.  4J4. 
Riiuoiictta  .^t-Ucn,  ii.  3O4. 
lircii)ii:tcs  fusilliis^  ii.  14J. 

iHti(/eiitiilis,  ii.  144, 
Erisiiiatiiid  ri(bi(iti,  ii.  334. 
Eticl/uia  (>iiOh)i\  i.  ii: 


caiioia,  i.  313. 


J'3' 


Faho  coliiiidnjyiiis^x.  11. 
lilaiuliis.  i.  7. 
incxiittnus,  i,  9. 
pf>\i^ rill  lis  iiiialitin,  i.  9. 
rciriiltis,  i.  12. 
riisticolits^  i.  7. 
rusti.oliis  !;yyfalco,  i.  8. 
riisticoliis  olisolctiis,  1.  S, 
sparvcrioidcs,  i.  14. 
s/iirici-ins,  i.  13. 
tiiiitnncnlus,  i.  14. 
Falcon,  Peregrine,  i.  9. 

I'r.iiiic,  i.  9 
Fincli,  Glass,  i.  320. 
Lark,  i.  3,7. 
Lincoln's,  i.  328. 
Pine,  i.  351. 
Purple,  i.  372. 
Seaside,  i.  3(6. 
Shore,  i.  3(4. 
.Simiiiicr,  i.  327. 
'J'liistlL',  i.  348. 
Fire-bird,  i.  S;. 
l'"laniin.u;(i,  ii.  104. 
I'dickcr,  i.  4  ^S. 
Flycatcher,  Acadian,  i.  425. 
Crested,  i.  41  -;. 
F"(irk-tailed,  i.  427. 
Least,  i.  421. 
Olive-sidt'd,  i.  410. 
Sciss(.r-taile  i.  1.  427. 
Small-headed,  i.  idS. 
Traill's,  i.  424. 
Vcllow-bilicfl,  i.  426. 
Fraterciila  arctiia.  ii.  406. 
(ifc/ia  i^/aiid/is,  ii.  4oq. 
Frigate  Bird,  ii.  37  ^ 
/'"irCiitii  aijitilii,  li.   ;7-;. 
Ftiiica  aincri<ana,  ii.  197^ 

atra,  ii.  201. 
Fulmar,  ii.  269. 

Lesser,  ii.  271. 
I'^idnKiris  olaciiilis,  ii.  269. 


Fii/iiKuis  i^/tiduli-  minor,  ii.  271. 

Cadwal),  ii.  307. 

(iiihvSiO/'tcs  caro/iiuiisis,  i.  195. 

GitUiiiiv^o  dclicatn,  ii.  172. 

,(,'(7/// //(?;•<).  ii.  i7(). 
G<i/iiiiiilci  i;(i/i\i/,i^  ii.  20V 
CJailiiiuk.',  ('oiKiiKin,  ii.  203. 
Florida,  ii.  203. 
I'lirjiL',  ii.  201. 
Gannet,  ii.  373. 
Gare  Fowl,  i.  m. 
(iiivid  all-a,  ii.  244. 
Ciclo^liciido)i  niluHia,  ii.  21S. 
Giothlypis  ngilis,  i,  253. 

J'orinostt,  i.  246. 

/'/lil'idc/'/iia^  i.  251. 

/ru/uis,  i.  247. 

trichtxs  ociidi.ntalis,  i.  2^1, 

Iriclias  i^^iiutu,  i.  231. 
Geo(rygoii  innrtiiiim,  li.  9. 

mo II id II a,  ii.  10. 
Clamioiutta  claiigiila  amcncanu,  ii. 

isl.iiidica.  li.  -551. 
Gnatcatcher,  I'.liic-ijray,  i.  170. 
Goatsucker,  i.  470. 
Godwit,  P.lack-tailed,  ii.  169. 
liud^oiii.tn,  ii.  ir,,s. 
Marbled,  ii.  166. 
Golden-eye,  ii.  ^jt), 
Harrow's,  ii.  3,1. 
Kocky  Mountain,  ii.  ^51. 
Goldfinch,  i.   5;  5. 
Aiii.rican,   54S. 
lilac  k-hcaded.  i,  ^30. 
Cionsaiuler,  ii.  -3S. 
CJoosc.  P).irnacle,  ii.  202. 
i>hn'.  ii.  2S  V 
Pliant,  li.  20  V 
t'ackhn:,',  ii.  292. 
Canada,  ii.  2S3. 
Gicatcr  Snow,  ii.  281. 
Ilutchins's.  li.  2()0. 
I-aiii;hii:L;,  ii.  2X4. 
Lesser  Snow,  ii.  2S3. 
Solan,  li.  -573. 
Soiitlurn,  ii.  200. 
White-fr.'Mted,  li.  2S4. 
Wild,  ii.2S3. 
fioshawk.  i.  31. 
(;iackie.   IJo.it-tailed.  i.  114. 


fp^ 


422 


INDEX. 


I    »>    • 


!^  i' 


i 


h 


Crackle,  liion/e,  i.  1 18. 

I'"li)ricla,  i.  1  iS. 

I'urplc,  i.  115. 
(irasscjiiil,  i.  ;i  5. 

Melodious,  i.  31  5. 
(iicjn-bliank,  ii.  1  y). 
CJicbf,  Carolina,  ii.  586. 

JJiisky,  ii.  ;S.l- 

llulbijull's,  li.  5S4. 

lluriied,  ii.  3S3. 

l.ittk:,  ii.  386. 

I'ii'd-hilied,  ii.  38^). 

Kctl-iiuckcd,  ii.  3S4. 
Grosbeak,  ISlue,  i.  371. 

Kvcniii'^,  i.  367. 

Fine,  i.  375. 

Kosu-ijioastcd,  i.  3O9. 
Groto/>/taiia  aiii,  1.  43S. 
Grouse,  Can.uki,  ii.  41. 

Canadian  Uulled,  ii.  34. 

riniiatcd,  ii.  33. 

Prairie  Siiarp-tailed,  ii.  41. 

Kuffed,  li   30. 

Sharp-tailed,  ii.  39. 

Spotted,  ii.  41. 

Ai'liite,  ii.  4^. 
Giiis  uiiicriiiiiiti,  ii.  T}. 

caiKJiiciisis,  ii.  76. 

tnextcana,  ii.  77. 
Guar  a  a/lxi,  ii.  112. 

rithra,  ii.  1 12. 
Guillemot,  lilack,  ii.  ^1)5. 

Hlack-\vini;ed,  ii.  397. 

Coninum,  ii.  31^8. 

Foolish,  ii.  3()8,  401. 

Maiulfs.  ii.  ■t.i)-] . 

'J"!iick-l)illcd,  ii.  401. 
Giiiraid  ((eritlca,  i.  37:. 
Gull,  niack-headed,  ii.  236. 

lionaparte's,  ii.  238. 

ConiMion,  ii.  243. 

I'"ork:'d-tailed,  ii.  334. 

Franklin's,  ii.  2 ',8. 

Glaucous,  ii.  248. 

Great  Black-backed,  ii.  25: 

Ilerrin'.;,  ii.  246,  2)7. 

Iceland,  ii.  250. 

Ivory,  ii.  24  |. 

Kunilien's,  ii.  2;i. 

Laut;hini;,  ii.  23(1. 

I-ittle,  ii.  235. 

Mackerel,  ii.  213. 


(iull.  Parasitic,  ii.  255. 

King-ljillud,  ii.  243. 

Ross's,  ii,  23<). 

Sabine's,  ii.  234. 

Siberian,  ii.  231. 

.Summer,  ii.  21  ^. 

\\'edj;e- tailed,  ii.  239. 

W  liite-winyed,  ii.  250. 
Gyrfalcun,  i.  7. 

Haliia  liiJox'iiiiDui,  i.  V)9- 
J/uiii<i/o/>iis  ostr(il(\:;us,  ii.  56. 

palliatiis^  ii.   34. 
I  lagdon,  ii.  272. 

lilack,  ii.  275. 

White,  li.  269,  271. 
Ilairbinl.  i.  33^. 
Ilaliacliis  atli'n'illa,  i,  2(). 

leucocff-lialiis^  i.  19. 
Il,mL;-nest,  i.  83. 
lltirf-orhynciis  rufiis,  i.  192. 
Hawk,  lilack.  i.  41. 

liiue,  i.  31. 

IJiuc  lien,  i.  31. 

Iiroad-\vin,i;eil,  i.  49, 

Cooper's,  i.  34. 

Cuban  Sparrow,  i.  14. 

Duck,  i,  9, 

Fish,  i.  27. 

Florida  Ked-shouldercxl,  i.  45. 

Great-tooted,  i.  (j. 

Harlan's,  i.  48, 

Harris's,  i.  46. 

Marsh,  i.  51. 

Pigeon,  i,  1 1, 

Ued-shoiildcred,  i.  43. 

Ked-tai!ed.  i.  4(). 

Roiij;h-le'4'4ed,  i.  41. 

Sharp-shinned,  i.  35. 

Short-tailed,  i.  50. 

Snail,  i.  40. 

Sp.urow,  i.  13. 

Swainson"s.  i.  48. 

Winter,  i.  43. 
Heath  Hen.  ii.  38. 
I lilniaiii  swain Mnii^  1,  256. 
Holl-diver,  ii.  383. 
Hcbiiinthof'h'ilci  hachmanl,  i,  2h\. 

a/i)/a,  i.  264, 

chrys'/'/aa,  i.  260. 

chninnnficnsis,  i.  2')5. 

liuvrciuci,  i.  29,. 


INDEX. 


423 


.  ,<-,. 


)2. 


1.  45. 


I.   21)1. 


Hchitinthophila  Icucobioncliian.s,  \.2  r^. 

fcn\i;;iiui>,  i.  2()i. 

/'inns,  i.  ajS. 

yiifuapilLi,  i.  263. 
/h'/iiuf/ici  us  i'cnitivotit.\,  i.  255. 
ilL'ii,  ileath,  ii.  3S. 
IIlii,  I'laiiic,  i.  ^5. 
Heron,  lllack  ciuwncil  Ni^lit,  ii.  yi. 

nine.  ii.  Nr . 

Florida,  ii.  82. 

Great  nine,  ii.  i>^. 

Great  White,  ii.  S2. 

Green,  ii.  1)7. 

Little  liliie,  ii.  94. 

Louisiana,  ii.  </>. 

Small  White,  ii.  SO. 

Snowy,  ii.  86. 

WarJ's,  ii.  82. 

Wiudeinan's,  ii.  82. 

Vellow-crowncd  Nii^ht,  ii.  90. 
licsfcrniuiiUi  mn  in,  i.  202. 
IIi,!;li-lii)lcler,  i.  4  ;S. 
IHinanlo/us  iiicxicanus,  ii.  52. 
Ilistrioiiiiiis  liistiionicits,  ii.  •552. 
lliiniiiiin^-bird,  i.  457. 
Hydroi/u-.'ii/oi!  Iciicoftcra,  ii.  2:!i. 

iiii;m  siiiiinjiiuiisis,  ii.  2  50. 

Ibis,  Glossy,  ii.  114. 

Scarlet,  ii.  1 12. 

White,  ii.  1 12. 

Wood,  ii.  no. 
Ictcria  viyeiis,  i.  172. 
let  CI- us  luiiloilci,  i.  yj. 

gall) Ilia,  i.  83. 

icterus,  i.  82. 

s/iniiis,  i.  9-5. 
Jitiiui  »iississi/>/ii,-iisis,  i.    t-. 
loinirnis  inaitinica,  ii.  201. 

Jackdaw,  i.  114. 
Jaeger,  Arctic,  ii.  258. 

I.ong-tailal,  ii.  231). 

Parasitic,  ii.  238, 

I'oniarine,  ii.  237. 

Kichardson's,  ii.  23S. 

Jay,  Blue,  i.  i:;:;. 

Canada,  i.  1  ',8. 
Florida,  i.  1 57. 
Florida  Rlne.  i.  136. 
Labrador,  i.  141 . 
yuncii  caioinicnsis,  i.  ^i. 


Jmuo  hycmalis,  i.  3^,9. 

liyt'iiialis  orctionits,  i.  -541. 
Oregon,  i.  341. 
Slate-colored,  i.  359. 

Kestrel,   i.  14. 
Killdeer,  ii.  02. 
Kingbird,  i.  404. 

Arkan.sas,  i.  409. 

tir.iy,  i.  414. 
Kingtisher,  i.  4()i. 
Kinglet,  Cuvier's,  1.  282, 

(ioldencrowned,  i.  28^. 

Hiiby-crowiied,  i.  281. 
Kite,  lilack,  1.  40. 

IllacU-shoiddered,  i.  38. 

nine,  i.  37. 

I'-vergladf,  i.  40. 

l'"ork-tailed,  i.  39. 

Hook-billed,  i.  40. 

Mi>si>si|ij)i,  i.  ^-j. 

."^wallow-t.iiletl,  i,  39. 

White-failed,  i.  38. 
Kittiwake,  ii.  241. 
Knot,  ii.  140. 
Krieker,  ii.  130. 

[.ai;-i/-us  lai^n/iis,  ii.  43. 

lirxii/us  allcui,  ii.  47. 

i-ii/'rstns,  ii.  47. 

ruf<est>is  reiiiliarj/i.  ii.  48. 

nrlilii,  ii.  ^S. 
f.auius  I'orcalis,  i,  131,. 

liiiloviciauus,  \,  162. 

liiiloi'hiainis  cwiihi/Driilts, 
Lapwing,  ii.  70. 
Lark,  I'ield.  i.  -q. 

Horned,  i.  2()). 

Meadow,  i.  7(1. 

Mexican  Meadow,  i,  83. 

I'rairic  Horned^.  29C). 

."^hore,  i.  204. 

Wisfi-in  .Meadow,  i.  82. 
l.iirii -  titji lUK,  Ii.  2;i. 

ari;riitalu<,  ii.  247. 

a>xrntnfu\  siiiitlisoiiiaiiits,  ii.  j/). 

afi/iillir.  ii.  2^/1. 

ca?llis,    ii.  24  :;. 

i/rli77cnif//si\.  ii.  245. 
franklin  ii,  ii.  2^8. 

lilauiiis,  ii.  248. 

hiinilicni,  ii.  2\i. 


I.  i()^. 


424 


INDEX. 


t^'^ 


I  ,>v  -i.y 


h 


Lams  lciicof>tcrus,  ii.  250. 

lUiiruiKs,  ii,  252. 

miimtiis,  ii,  135, 

philiidclph'ia^  ii.  238, 
Limosa  fcdoit,  ii,  1(16, 

/i<i iiiii.\thii,  ii,  KuS. 

//i>ius:i,  ii,  169. 
l.iinpkln.  ii,  102. 
Linnet,  i.  372. 

liicw^tci's,  i.  J5y. 

I'inc,  i.  351. 

Ki;cl|)oll,  i.  353. 
Log-totlv,  i.  44.|. 
Lonnspm,  Clicstnut-collared,  i.  305, 

Lapland,  i,  30.1. 

.Sniilli's,  i.  305. 
Loon,  ii.  3SS, 

liiaLk-tliioati.il.ii,  391. 

Ki.'il-llir(iatcil,  ii.  393. 
LopJnulytcs  iiniii!<it:is,  i.  363. 
Loicl-and-Lady,  ii.  352, 
Loxia  ciiri'hoi/ia  ininor,  i,  t,']^. 

IcUioplOii,  i.  3S1. 

Macivr/tiiiiipus  i^yisiiis,  ii.  169. 

sai/opiJi'tiis,  ii.  171, 
Magpie   i.  132, 
Mallard,  ii.  303, 

Dii-^ky,  ii.  315. 
Man-()f-\Var,  ii.  25S, 
Man  ()f-\\'ar  l?ird,  ii.  373. 
Marsli  Hairier,  1,51, 
Marsh  Hen,  ii.  11)7. 
Maisli  Ilcn,  I'reslv.vater,  ii.  iSS. 
Marlin,  ii.  166. 

Kin^-tailcd,  ii    16S, 
Martin,  I'.e?.  i.  .|o). 

I'luple,  i.  31)1 . 

.'^and.  i.  .|oi. 
Maryland  W'llow-throat,  i.  249. 
Meadow  Hen.  ii.  107. 

Saltwater,  ii.  1S3. 
Meadow-wink.  i.  100. 
AAxn/t's/r/s  skiiti,  ii.  255. 
A/ii^nsfops  rrs/o,  i.  ^7. 

nsio  ilo>idaii7(s,  i.  60. 
Mchiucipc^  (-(ini/iniis,  i.  448. 

crytlii-thcphalii'!,  i.  447. 
Afclrai;i-is  i;<i/l^/'(r-i'o,  ii.  15. 
Mclospizd  fiisciata,  i   322, 

ji;n>ri:'<J"<r,  i.  342. 

/i/ico/i/i,  i.  328. 


Afrfc;aiisfr  amcricanns,  ii,  358. 

.sciitifoi,  ii.  360. 
Merganser,  ii.  35S, 

Hooded,  ii.  },(i'}i. 

Ked-breasteil,  ii,  3f)0. 
Merlin,  i.  12. 

A/eni/it  iiii^iittoriii,  \.  kjS. 
Mi<rof<alamii  /iiiiiiuitopiis,  ii,  145, 
Milvuliis  jorjiuilus^  i.  427, 

tyraiuiiis,  i.  .[27. 
ii liin II s  /(V 1;;' liiU iis,\.  I S 7 , 
Miiiotilta  Xitrid,  1.  3S9, 
Mockin;;-binl,  1,  1S7. 
Mo!ot/ii Its  uLr,  i.  104, 
Moor  iitn.  li.  107. 
Moor^e-binl,  i.  13S. 
MohuilUi  allhu  i.  203. 
Mother  drey's  Chiekcn,  ii.  267. 
Mud  Hen,  ii.  1,^3,  197. 

Ked-b.lled,  ii.  203. 
Miirrc,  ii.  y-)!>. 

IJiiinnieh's,  ii.  401. 
Myiarc/iiis  iiiiiitiis,  i,  413, 

Nct/a  iii/iii,i.  ii.  364. 
Night  1  i.iwk,  i.  470. 

l'"lorida,  i.  473. 
Noddy,  ii.  2},2,  2fi<),  271. 
Noiiioiiyx  doiiiiiihiis,  ii.  364. 
Nonpareil,  i.  314. 
Nitincniiis  hinralh,  ii.  122. 

huihouicii!:.  ii.  120. 

loiic;irosfris.  ii.   1  iS. 
Nuthatch,  Ihown-headed,  i.  386, 

Red  breastid,  i.  3S;. 

\\'hitc  breasted,  i.  3S3. 
N'yctdla  acadha,  i.  72. 

tciiiiiitnlini  richardsoni,  1.  ~,},. 
Nyctca  iiy,/i(i,  i.  ^^. 
Nyc/iiomx  nycfhoiax  iiutIiis,u.  ()i. 

7'io!(iiciis,  ii,  90, 

Orrani/i-s  orrmiinis,  ii.  264. 

O  (•ii/iih/iviiid  IciicoyJi'Hi,  ii.  263. 

Oidciii'in  oiiicvicann^  ii,  333. 

dci;/nndi,  ii.  334. 

fiiscn,  ii.  334, 

pcrsphillt  it  a,  i  i .  331. 
01d-s(|naw,  ii.  3;-. 
Old-Toin-I'eabodv.  i.  318. 
OUn-  hiiiinntor.  ii.  2<i<). 

coluiiil'iaiiiis,  ii.  296. 


It     ; 


INDEX. 


425 


ii.  3-A 


Sii.  M5 


i.  267, 


'f,  ii.  91. 


O/or  cxi^'/us,  ii.  299. 
Oriole,  Haltimorc,  i.  Sj. 
Bullock '.s,  i.  1)2. 
Orchard,  i.  9^. 
Osprey,  i.  27. 
Ulocons  ii//-cs/ris,  i.  29). 

o//fstiis /•ycUicola,  i.  296. 
Oven-bird,  i.  215. 
Owl,  Acadian,  i.  72. 

liarn,i.  75. 

Barred,  i.  70. 

Burrowing,  i.  7S. 

Cat,  i.  61. 

Dusky  Ildined,  i.  64. 

I'"l(rida  iiarrcil,  i.  71. 

J''lori(la.Screecli.  i.  Go. 

Great  (iray.  i.  ().(. 

(ireal  Horned,  i.  61, 

Hawk,  i.  53. 

I  loot,  1.  70. 

Lon,i;-earcd,  i.  66, 

Motllwl,  i.  57. 

Kcd,  i.  57. 

Kicliardson's,  i.  73. 

Saw-whet,  i.  72. 

Screech,  i.  57. 

Sliort-carcd.  i.  68. 
Snowy,  i.  55. 

Sparrow,  i.  7^. 

\\i stern  Ildrned,  i.  64. 
Oyster-catcher,  ii.  54. 


Km 


(ipean,  ii.  56. 


Pale-belly,  ii.  37. 

/'aiiifioii  /la/iai'/its  carolincnsis. 

Parabiiteo  iiiiichu/ns  harrhi,  \. 

Parakeet,  i.  42S. 

Paroquet,  Carolina,  i.  42S. 

Parrot,  Carolina,  i.  428. 

Sea,  ii.  406. 
Partndi;e,  ii.  2^,  30. 
Birch,  ii.  30. 
Sjiriice,  ii.  .\\. 
Passer  dome >-tic It f.  i.  -^54, 
Passcrclla  iliaca.  i.  3;,S. 
Passe rina  ciiis.  i.  314. 
cyaitca,  i.  310. 
versicolor,  i.  31  ^ 
Partis  alrieaf-i'lus,  i.  146. 
bicolor,  i.  142. 
caroHneiisis,  i.  150, 
find  son  i<  IIS,  i.  151. 


1.  27. 
4^-. 


Patch-he.-id,  ii.  331. 
P<i:v//ee//,i  /'/i<;ii,i.\,  ii,  150. 
I'e.ibody-bird,   i.  31.S. 
Pcdioectcs  fliiisiiutelliis,  ii.  -59. 

fluisiamiliis  coiit/'estrn,  ii.  41. 
Peep,  ii.  136. 
Pcet-weet,  ii.  160. 
Peiiij^Oihdiiiii  mariiKi,  ii.  2()S. 
Peh\(iiiiis  eryllnorhynclios,  ii.  364. 

fiiseiis,  ii.    ^rjS. 
Pelican,  Brown,  ii.    :<6S. 
I''ri,;;.ile,  ii.  ^,- ^^'. 
White,  ii.  3(14 . 
I'engiiin,  ii.  3()S,  401. 

(ireat,  ii.  414. 
Perisoreiis  emiadeiisis,  i.  i -^S. 

eaiiiufeiisis  iiii^riea/^i/Iits,  i.  141, 
Petrel,  lilack-cajiped,  ii.  26S. 
iJulwer'.s,  ii.   26S. 
Pork-tailed,  ii.  26:5. 
Leach's,  ii.  265. 
Peale's,  ii.  26S. 
.^tormy,  ii.  zity. 
White-bellied,  ii.  26S. 
White-lV.jed,  ii.  jdS. 
\\  ilson  .-.,  ii.  2(14. 
PelroiheUdoii  fiilvd,  i.  403. 

lidiifroiis,  i.  3()(,. 
Peiutiii  tcslivalis,  i.  328. 

<i  ftrealis  hachiiiaiiii,  i.   527. 
Pewce,  i.  415. 

\\'ood,  i.  410. 
Pewit,  i.  415. 
PIta'ithoii  it/fiereiis.  ii.  -Si. 

jhreiroslns,  ii.  ;S2. 
Pliidaerocorax  euyho,  ii.   ^jricj. 
dilof-hus,  ii.  ^,72. 
dilof-lnis jloridaiiu.-.,  ii.  -7-;. 
iiiexieanus,  ii.  57^. 
Phalarope,  (iray,  ii.  205. 
N'orthcrn.  ii.  207. 
Red,  ii.  205. 
Ked-mcked,  ii.  207. 
\\  IIm  n"s,  ii.  211. 
Phalarcf-iis  lolatiis,  ii.  207. 

trie-  lor,  ii    211. 
Phasiaiiiis  eolehieiis,  ii.  22. 
Pheasant,  ii.  ^o. 

Kn;;lisli,  ii.  22. 
PfiiloluLi  minor,  ii.  176. 
Phabe,  i.  415. 
Say's,  i.  418. 


r 


h  * 


426 


INDEX. 


H, 


i 
• 


J    !l 


r; 


m 


1'i 


Phcenicoptcrns  ruber,  ii.  104. 
PiCiX  pica  liudsonua,  i.  132. 
PicoUcs  (Oncricaitus,  i.  456. 

arcdcits,  i.  ^55. 
Pigeon,  Paitiitlgc,  ii.  9, 

I'assenjifir,  ii.  i. 

VVhitecrownud,  ii.  7, 

Willi,  ii.  I. 
P'niicala  eniiclcator,  i.   375. 
I'intail,  ii.  309. 
Pipilo erylhtophthalmHs,  ii.  359, 

CI y/hrop/i/lialiitus  aikiti,  i.  361. 
Pipit,  i.  292. 

iMeailow,  i.  2(^5. 
Piranga  cryt/iroiiii-las,  i.  306. 

Ittdovicinita,  i.  310. 

nil/Ill,  i.  309. 
Plant  IIS  iiiipciiiih,  ii.  414. 
Plcctrophciiiix  nivalis,  i.  300. 
Plt'q;a(lis  ciu/itiiinalis,  ii.  114. 
Plover,  IJcited-piping,  ii.6o. 

Ulack-ijcllied,  ii,  68. 

Chicken,  ii.  71. 

Common,  ii.  57. 

Eiirope.m  (ioltlcn,  ii.  58. 

Field,  ii.  164. 

Golden,  ii.  57, 

Green,  if.  57. 

Mountain,  ii.  67. 

Piping,  ii.  59. 

Ked-leggcd,  ii.  71. 

Kin(;e(l,  ii.  66. 

Huddy,  ii.  49. 

Semi-palniatcd,  ii.  64. 

Swiss,  ii.  6S. 

Upland,  ii.  164. 

Wliistlinj,',  ii.  57. 

Wilson's,  ii.  61. 
Pochard,  ii.  340. 
Podilyinbiis podiceps,  ii.  386. 
Polioplila  Cicnilca,  i.  170. 
Poly  boms  chci'nvay,  i.  6. 
Poocatc^  i^raiitiitciis,  i.  320. 
Porzana Carolina,  ii.  189. 

jainaicciisi  ,  ii.  196. 

noi'dioraccvsis,  ii.  194. 

porzana,  ii    196. 
Prairie  Chicken,  ii,  35,  39,  41. 
Proccllaria  pclagica,  ii.  267. 
Proi;ne  stibis,  i.  391. 
Pro/oiiotaria  ci/rea,  i.  257. 
Ptarmigan,  Allen's,  II.  47. 


Ptarmigan,  Reinhardt's,  ii.  48. 

Kotk,  ii.  47. 

Welcii's,  ii.  4S. 

Willow,  ii.  43. 
Puffin,  ii.  406. 

I.arge-bilied,  ii.  409, 
Piijfiiuis  audiil'oni,  ii.  275. 

I'orcalis,  ii.  274. 

kiihlii,  ii.  273,  274. 

major,  ii.  272. 
Piiffuiiis  pnffinns,  ii.  276. 

ilricklandi,  ii.  275. 

Oiia  r)ird,  ii.  91. 
(Jiiail,  li.  23. 

Messina,  ii.  30. 
Quail-dove,  r.lue-headcd,  ii.  14. 

Kudily,  ii.  10. 
Qlliscaliis  major,  i.  114. 

qniscnla,  i.  115. 

qniscula  uncus,  i.  118. 

qiiiscula  a^hcus,\.  118. 

Kail,  I!is,  ii.  1S3, 

Black,  ii.  196. 

Carolina,  ii.  189. 

Clapper,  ii.  183. 

Common,  ii.  189. 

Florida  Clap]icr,  ii.  187. 

Kins,  ii.  1S8. 

Land,  ii,  196. 

Lesser  Clajiper,  ii.  i8o. 

Louisiana  Clapper,  ii.  187. 

Ked-breastcd,  ii,  iSo,  i8S, 

Scott's,  ii.  187. 

Virj^inia,  ii.  180. 

^'ellow,  ii.  194, 
Kalliis  cl:-i;ans,  ii,  188. 

loiit^'-iros/ris  crepitans,  ii.  183. 

loni:;irosiris  safuratus,  ii,  187. 

loiti^irostris  scottii,  ii,  187. 

virginianns,\\,  180. 
Kavcn,  i.  120. 
Razor-bill,  ii.  260. 
Kcciiriirosta  americana,  ii.  106. 
Kedbird,  i.  -^62. 
Kedlicad,  ii.  340. 
Redpoll,  i.  355, 

Greater,  i.  357. 

Greenland,  i.  359. 

Hoary,  i.  358. 

Ilolbd-ll's^i.  357. 


■  i 


INDEX. 


427 


Redpoll,  Lesser,  i.  355. 

Mealy,  i.  35,s. 
Redstart,  i.   iij^. 
A'c'j^/i/iis  c(i/l/ii/ii/(i,  i.  2S1. 

cttvicn,  i.  2S2. 

satrapix,  i.  2.S?. 
RhoJoslcthia  rosea,  ii.  259. 
Ricc-biid,  i.  IOC). 
Kissa  tndiiityla,  ii.  241. 
Robin,  i.  19S. 

Golden,  i.  S3. 

fiioiind,  1.  559. 

Swamp,  i.  205. 
Rostrluiniiis  soc'uibilts,  i.  40. 
Ruff,  ii.  150. 
Nyiii/i,>/'s  iiii^ra,  ii.  2f)o. 

Saddleback,  ii.  252. 
.Sanduiliiij;,  ii.  49, 
Sandijii)ci,  ISaird's,  ii.  142. 

IJartraniian,  ii.  i()4. 

15iack-bcllicd,  li.  126. 

Don.ipaite'.s,  ii.  129. 

Biilf-bieasted,  ii.  132, 

Curlew,  ii.  125, 

Green,  ii.  157. 

Least,  ii.  136. 

I'cctoral,  ii.  130. 

Piiriile,  ii.  134. 

Red-ljacked,  ii.  126. 

Semi-palm, ited,  ii,  143. 

Solitary,  ii.  15;. 

S))f)ttcd,  ii.  160. 

Stilt,  ii,  145, 

Western,  ii,  144. 

White-riimpcd,  ii.  129. 
Sapsucker,  \'cllovv-bellicd,  i.  450. 
Saw-bill,  ii.  35S. 
Saxicoia  aimuthe,  i.  290. 
Sayornis pluvlH\  i.  415, 

say  a,  i.  4i,S. 
Scolccof'liai^iis  iaroli)nis^  i.  119. 
Scolofax  nistiio/a,  ii,  179. 
Scoter,  American,  ii.  3  53. 

niack,  ii,  333. 

Surf,  ii,  331. 

Velvet,  ii.  334, 

White-winged,  ii.  334, 
Sea-goo.se,  ii,  205,207,  211, 
Seamew,  li.  243. 
Sea-i)it;eon,  ii.  395. 
Sea-swallow,  ii,  213. 


■^y 


163. 


Sfiiiriis  aiiroca/'illus,  i,  215, 
iitolaii/ia,  i.  214. 
iiDvel'iiraicitsis,  i,  .^12, 
.Sr/ii/Z/di;,/  nt//(///a,\,  id^. 
Sliad-bird,  ii,  1  72. 
Sha.L,',  ii.  3().|,  372. 
.Shcarw.itcr,  .Aiuhibon's,  li.  275. 
Cory's,  li,  274. 
Cireater,  ii.  272, 
Manx,  ii.  276. 
Soot\,  ii.  275. 
Slielldr.ike,  ii,  3(>o. 
liiitl-bre.istetl,  li. 
Jloodetl,  ii,    503, 
Siioveller,  ii,  300, 
Shrike,  Loiji-erliead,  i. 
Northern,  i.  1 ,9. 
White-nimi)ed,  i. 
Si  alia  siiilis,  i.  285, 
Sickle-bill,  ii.  1  kS, 
Siskin,  I'ine,  i.  351. 
Si//a  iiiiitii/iitsis,  i.  5X5. 
larolniciuis,  i.  3S ;. 
/•iisi/lii,  1,  380. 
Skimmer,  IJlack,  ii,  2f)o, 
Skua,  ii,  255, 

Jiuflon's,  ii,  259, 
Skunk-head,  ii,  331, 
Skylark,  i.  2c)7, 
Sni]ie,  Common,  ii,  17.-'. 
Kuijlish,  ii.  172, 
Kurojicaii,  ii,  176, 
Grass,  ii,  i  50. 
Gray.  ii.  \(n). 
Jack,  ii.  I  \o,  172. 
Red-breasted,  ii.  140,  199. 
Roiiin,  ii.  140,  169, 
Rock,  ii.  134. 
Stone,  ii.  I  --^i. 
Wilson's,  ii.    i  72. 
Winter,  ii.  126.  1  q. 
Snow-bird,  i.  330. 
White,  i.  300. 
Siioutlakc,  i.  300. 
So»i(!fc) ia  (/rt'sscn,  ii.  32). 

iiioUissiiiia  boreaiis.  ii.  32c). 
^•/'Li/<i/>i/}s,  ii,  329, 
Sora,  ii.  i,Sc). 
Sou-southerlv,  ii.  3,5, 
Sparrow,  ,\cadian  Sharp-tailed,  i,  343. 
IJachman's,  i.  327. 
Brewer's,  i.  335. 


ll  • , 


Ivi 


i;  !' 


I 


■' 


428 


INOKX. 


Sparrow,  Cliippini;,  i.  333. 
Clay-coloreil,  i,  557, 
l)ll^ky  Siasidc,  1.  ji;. 
'•■-"Kli-'l",  i-  .?5(. 
Fickl,  i.  v;'). 
l-'ox,  i.  3  vS. 
(iroiiinl.  i,  jj:;. 
(jra^sliop|)i'r,  i.  329. 
llun^ldvv  s,  i.  330. 

Il01l-,C',  i.  354. 

Ipswii.h,  i.  326. 
Lark.  i.  317. 
Lc  C'iiilu\,  i.  331. 
Lincoln's,  i.  32S. 

Nflsnll's,   i.  3^6, 

I'irij  Woods,  i.  328. 

Savanna,  i.  ;2:i. 

Scott's  ^casid^',  i    ^^y. 

Seaside,  i.  346. 

Sliarp-t.iilcd,  i.  344. 

Son.,',  i.  3^2. 

Swamp,  i.  342. 

TrcL',  i.  332. 

Vesper,  I,  320. 

WiiitL'-crowned,  i.  315. 

Whitc-tlu'ialcd,  i.  318. 

Yellow  winded,  i.  329. 
S/d/ii/ii  ( lyf'caiij,  ii.  300. 
Spcolyto     itiiiinihtriii     fhmdaua,    i. 
/S. 

ciiiikrilar'ia  /lyfioqira^  \.  78. 
Sphyraph  ii<.  variiis,  i.  450. 
S/iitus  iiota/iis,  i.  350. 

piiiitt,  i.  351. 

In  si  is,  i.  3i,S, 
S/>iza  aiitcii'  (iiut,  i.  298. 

townsciuli,  i.  irjf). 
Spiz'.-tUx  brcwcri,  i.  335. 

tiiotiticold,  i,  332. 

/a/Ii(f(i,  i.  •?^,7. 

fiis'lld.  i.  ^^6. 

sociiith,  i.  333. 
Spoonbill,  ii.  300. 

Koseate,  ii.  108. 
Spristail,  i.  ^09. 
Squawk,  ii.  91. 
Stake  Driver,  ii.  99, 
Starlinj;,  i.  82. 

Sfaritwtws  cyanoccphala,  ii.  14. 
Stclt^idoptcryx  acrri/'criiiif:,  i.  403. 
Stcrcoraritts  loii{iic(iii(/iis,  ii.  259. 

parasiticus,  ii,  25S. 


Stt'noi  III  Ills  poniitrini's,  ii,  257. 
SlcnKi  II  )i«  I /ill  IIS,  ii.  228. 

aiitilUit mil,  ii.  .'2^. 

i/oiii;iilli,  ii.  j2  5. 

Jo  11  / it i,  ii.  T|(). 

fiilii^iiiosii,  ii.  22S. 

/liniii.to,  ii,  21  ^. 

iiiiixiiiia,  ii.  217. 

pitriidiiua,  ii,  220, 

'■iiiiitiiiiinis  iniijluv'hlii,  ii.  222. 

ti  iiiliiuii,  ii.  22S. 

/>.  /iii^iiivii,  ii.  227. 
Stilt,  lll.ick-netked,  ii.  52. 
Stork,  Wood,  ii.   1 10. 
Stiikei.  (Janni't,  ii.  217,  227. 

I.illlc.  ii.  JJv 
S/ii.\ pid/iinuld,  i.  75. 
Stiinir//ii  III, ii;  11,1^  i.  71). 

ti/tixi/ii  i//ix/,iii!ii,  i.  S2. 

VKv^iiii  ii,-i;/i\tii,  i.  82. 
Siiiriiii.i  iii/i^iiiis,  i.  82. 
6'///rt  biissaiiii,  ii.  375. 

cyanops,  ii.  380. 

j///(7,  ii.  379. 

pisiiitof.  ii.  -;So. 
Sumnier  kcd-l-ird,  i.  309. 

'\'ellow-|jird.  i.  ^20. 
Siiriiici  iiliilii  ,iipiiivc/i,  i.  53. 
Swallow,  Hahania,  i.  403. 

Hank,  i.  4<ji. 

IJain,  i.  },i)\. 

Cliinmey,  i.  4'')^. 

Cliff,  i.  3(/i. 

Cuban  Clilf,  i.  403. 

Lave,  i.  390. 

Koui;li-wii)i;ed,  i.  403. 

Singin-,  i.  399. 

'J'ree.  i.  3()<). 

\\  hite-b;llicd,  i.  3(i(). 
Swan.  'rniini]e!('i ,  ii.  299, 

Whistling,  ii.   .•"'/''). 

\Vli(  opine:,  'i 
Swift,  Chimnei 
Syivaiiia  raiin  .  i,  2if. 

iiiicroccpl'ii.  265. 

viitnita,  i.  Id, . 
piisi/ii,  i.  168. 
Sylvia  iiiiiiuta,  i.  ifiS, 
Syiiiplicwiii  scviif'nhiinfa.\\.  146. 

scmipaliiinta    norvnt,;,  ii.  149. 
Syrniinii  ncl'iilosinii,  i.   70. 

ucbiilositm  alien i,  i.  71. 


INDKX. 


429 


'<«,  li.  257. 

22.S. 


r,iii(i,  ii.  222. 

52. 
227. 


.S2. 


'•53- 


V- 


ii.  146. 
■,  ii.  149. 


Tachycineta  l>iio.'or,  i.  ',()(;, 
Tananu'',  Loiiisiaiia,  i,  jio. 
Scarlet,  i.  306. 
.Siimimr,  i.  yx) 
Taiitiiliis  loiii!(ilor,  ii,  no. 
'I'attk-r,  ii,  152. 
Teal,  llliic'-wiinjcd,  ii.  3(9. 
L'iiin.imoii,  ii.  52 ;, 
]uii(il)can.  ii.  \2i,. 
Cjrccii  wiii'^cd,  ii.  J2i, 
Tcotci-tail,  ii.  160. 
Telltalf,  ii.  1^2. 
Tern,  Arctic,  ii,  220, 
Ulack.  ii.  230. 
IJridleci,  ii,  22S, 
Caljot's,  ii.  22.3, 
Caspian,  ii.  227. 
Cayenne,  ii.  217. 
Common,  ii.  21  3. 
l-'orstcr's,  ii.  216. 
(Jiill-ijilled,  ii,  2 1 8, 
Least,  ii.  225. 
Marsli,  ii.  21 8. 
Ko'eate,  ii.  223. 
Koyal,  ii,  217. 
Sandwicli,  ii.  222. 
.Siiort-failed,  ii.  230. 
.Silvery,  ii.  225. 
Sooty,  ii.  22S. 
Tnidea's,  ii.  22S. 
\Vliitc-\vin;;cd  Ulack,  ii.  231. 
Wilson's,  ii.  -^i  i,. 
Thahissoi^cron  ciiliiiinaltis,  i.  277, 
Tliistle-bird.  i.  34S. 
'riiraslu-r,  ISrown,  i.  192. 
Thnislr,  Alice's,  i.  211. 
liicknull's,  i.  212. 
Drown,  i.  kj^. 
Golik'n-crowned,  i,  at,. 
Gray-cliei-'ked,  i.  211. 
Hermit,  i.  205. 
Louisiana  Water,  i.  214. 
Olive-backcd,  i.  211. 
Ked-winnjL'd,  i.  202. 
Tawny,  i.  207. 
Varied,  i.  202. 
Water,  i.  212. 
Wilson's,  i.  207. 
Wood,  i.  202. 
Tliryothoriis  bc-vkkii,  i.  276. 

ludoviciauHs,  i.  272,  275. 
Tinker,  ii.  410. 


'l"ip-iip,  ii.  ifjo. 
'I'ltl.uk,  i.  292, 
'J  itnloll^e,  'J'lifted,  i.   142. 
'J'oltniiis  i/(iv:/',s,  li.  154. 
niiiiiiiolciiiiis,  ii,  ij2, 
itcbitUiriits,  ii,  159. 
o:/i>o/<iis,  ii.  i;(^. 
iolihiriiis,  ii.  157, 
Towliic,  i.  y^i). 

Wliitov'yud,  i.  36t. 
'r>i)i;^ii  alfin.t,  ii,  128. 
alpiita  f'iuijica,  ii.  126. 
Oandii,  ii,  142. 
ciiiiii/iis,  ii.  140, 
fi-rniiiiiuii,  ii.  125, 
fiiscUolliSfW,  129. 
Triir^a  maritiiitti.  11.  134. 
iiuiiiiid/ii,  ii.  I  ;o. 
iiiiiiii/i/l<i,  ii,    I  ;r). 
Tioiltiliis  coliidi i\\  i.  457. 
Troglodytes  iUilo)t.  i.  206. 
n'cilon  {'ittloihiiiii,  \,  270. 
niiioinuui':,  i,  270. 
Iiitiitiilh,  i.  270. 
Tropic-bird,  Red-billed,  ii.  381. 

Vellow-bilied,  ii.  382. 
Troiipial,  i.  82, 

Tryiiiiitis  siihnifuoUis,  ii.  132. 
Turd  IIS  nliiiii-,  \,  ?\\, 
itliciiv  Inckiiiili,  \.  212. 
nonalaschkic  fallasii,  i.  205. 
fiiscescciis,  i.  207. 
i/iiiciis,  I.  202, 
iiiiishlinw:,  i.  202. 
iisliilittm  s-vaiiisoiiii,  i.  211, 
Tnrke}.  V\11l!.  ii.  15. 
Tiirnst(jne,  ii.  71. 
Tyiii/'diiiu/iiis-  miicritiiniis,  ii.  35. 

cii/'ido,  ii.  3S. 
Tyr  anil  IIS  doiiiinuciisis,  i.  414. 
ty rill! II IIS,  i.  404. 
vri liidlis,  i.  409, 

Ulidii  ciiii-ren,  i.  64. 
Urid  loiiivia,  ii.  401. 

Iroi'c,  ii.  398. 
UriiKitor  tirc/irus,  ii,  391. 

iiii/ifi;  ii.  3SS. 

liniiin:,  ii.  393. 

Viindliis  I'liiu'/liis,  ii.  70. 
V'eery,  i.  207. 


If. 


^  ■ 

I!  ? 


rP 


m 


I  " 


f 


430 


ini)l;\. 


h 


I'irco  A////,  i.  iSo. 

jlavilrons,\.  174. 

/lavoiirii/is,  i.  1.S6. 

i^tlviis.  i.  I  So. 

novcl'ordcciisis,  i,  17S. 

noitlwciii-usis  iii(i)ii(U({i.  i,  iSo. 

oiivacciis,  i.  1S2. 

pliiliiilelf-liutts,  i.  1S6. 

soli/aiius,  i.  i7(). 

iolittuius  (i/tiiii/(t,  i.  177. 
Vireo,  Ik'll's,  i.  iSo. 

IJluulicailcd,  i.    i7(>. 

Key  West.  i.  iNo. 

Mountain  Solitary,  i.  177. 

I'liiladclphia,  i.  1S6. 

Keil-eyt(.l,  i.  iSj. 

Solitary,  i.  17(>. 

Waiijiiiii,',  i.  uSo. 

Wiiite-cyc'd.  i.  i7,S. 

Ycllow-grecn,  i.  iSr., 

\'ello\v-tlir(iatci.l.  i.  174. 
Vulture',  lilatk.  i.  .|. 

I'mkev,  i.  1 . 

Wagtail,  \\'Im!i'.  i.  30 ^ 
Warbler,  Andiilioirs,  i.  220. 
riac!inian\,  i.  jfn . 

IJay-bre.isfed,  i.  j  ;7. 

Ulack  and  Wliitc.  i.  ;,So. 

Ulatk  and  WIlow,  i.  22\. 

Hlarklnnnian.  i.  2^2. 

niack-poll,  i.  j;S. 

Hlack-tliroati'd  iilue,  i.  215. 
lilack-tliroated  (iricn/i.   2^0. 

nine,  i.  2  17. 

IJlue   Mountain,  i.  2(15. 

l51uo-\vini;<'d,  i,  25S. 

Hliic  \'cllo\v-lia(.kcd,  i.  2||. 

Hrewster's,  i.  211^, 

Canadian,  i.  227. 

Cape  M.iv.  i.  22f). 

Carhonati'd,  i.  26^. 

Cerule.m.  i.  2.(7. 

('Iiestnut  sided,  i.  255. 

Cincinnati,  i.  26;. 

Conni  Lticut,  1.  2^^. 

f  Joldcn-winsjed,  i.  260. 

(iray-lic.ided,  i.  2;  \. 

Hemlock,  i.  2  j^. 

Hooded,  i.  1(17. 

Ket\tuckv.  i.  2.(6, 

Kirtlaiur^.  i.  265. 


257- 
20;. 


217. 
22S. 


Warbler,  Lawrence's,  i.  265. 

Mannoli.i,  i.  22). 

Mourninj;,  i.  25 1 . 

Myrtle,  i.  217. 

Nashville,  i.  2(1^. 

Orange-crowned,  i.  264. 

J'alni.  i.  220. 

rarul.i,  i.  2.(4. 

I'ine,  i.  2  ?(). 

I'rairie,  i.  242. 

I'rotbonot.uy,  i. 

Snudldieailed,  i. 

Suninier,  i.  220. 

Swainson's.  i.  25(). 

.Sycamore,  1.  22(> 

'J'ennessee,  i.  261. 

'J'owusend's.  i.  2^5. 

Wilson's,  i.    16S. 

Worni-e.itini;,  i.  235. 

\'ellow,  i.  220. 

^'ellow-crownL■d,  i.  21  7. 

Vellow-]),dni,  i.  210. 

\'(  How  l\ed  poll,  i.  210 

\  cl!ow-rnm]n(l.  i, 

Vellow-tliro.iled.  i 
Wtter  Hen,  ii.  20  ;. 
Water  Wa;;tail,  i.  212. 
Wavey,  ii.  2S1. 

nine,  ii.  .'S;. 
Waxwinp;,  rmhiniian.  i.  132. 

Cedar,  i.  1  34. 
Whale-bird,  ii.   205. 
Wheatear,  i.  2()o. 
W  lii|)-poor-will,  i.  467. 
Whiskev  jack.  i.   1  ',S. 
Whistler,  ii.  vi<>,  VS'- 
Widgeon,  ii.  51 1-  ^r ;. 
Willet.  ii.  14O. 

Wistern,  ii.  i  |(). 
IV'ilsoiilit  iithiiitii.  i.  16S. 
Wilson's  Iilackcap,  i.  idS, 
Wooilcoik,  ii.  i7(). 

1)1, R'k.  i.  444. 

Muropean.  ii.   1  71). 
Woodpecker,    American    thrce-tned.    i. 
4^0. 

.Arctic  tinrc-tocd,  i,   (33. 

Ii.inded-backed,  1.  436. 

Hlack-backed,  i.  433. 

Downv,  i.  452. 

( ioldeu-win^eil,  i.  4  5S. 

ll.iiry,  i,  451. 


INDEX. 


i.  26; 


i.  264. 


431 


6v 


Woodpecker,  Ivory-billed,  i.  441. 

Pigeon,  i.  4;,S. 

J'iloatctl,  i,  444. 

l<ccl-beiliL(l,  i.  44S. 

Ued-cotUadwI,  1.  454. 

Kcd-lieaded,  i.  446. 
Wren,  IJewick'.s,  i.  276. 

Carolina,  i.  272. 

I'loriila,  i.  275. 

lioiise,  I.  2(1(1. 

I.ong-l)ill(jd  Marsh,  i.  279. 

Long-tailed  IIousl',  i.  276. 

Marian's  Marsh,  i,  ::}io. 

Mockinj;,  i.  jjj. 

I'arknian's,  i.  270. 

Short-billed  Marsh,  i.  277. 

Winter,  i.  270. 

Wood,  i.  2(i(),  270. 


XiiHthoccphaiits  xanthocephalus,  i.  102. 
Xcina  ialiiiiti,  ii.  234. 

Yellow-bird,  i.  348. 
Vtilow-lcgs,  ii.  I  :;4, 

Greater,  ii.  152. 

Lesser,  ii.  154. 

Smnnier,  ii.  15.). 

Winter,  ii.  152. 
Yellow-throat,  Florida,  i.  251. 

Mar>land,  i.  249. 

Western,  i.  231. 

'/.cnaida  zoiaidn,  ii,  10. 
/.lUaii/ioit  iitdiioiirti,  ii.  11. 
/.otHtt iiliia  IcKio/'htys,  i.  J15. 
albuollis,  i.  jiS, 


2  11). 
217. 
22S. 


'S.2. 


three-toed. 


13- 


